Cute

Building on concepts presented in their last album Variations, “The Gentle War” is a work of finely focused material. Modern and increasingly daring, it features the trio’s distinctive sounds of dense rhythmic interactions mixed with gentle melodic statements. Piano, bass and drums interact in fluid ways, evoking an intricate dialogue between the instruments.
Recording took place in the serene surrounds of Tallebudgera QLD, and was mixed in Minneapolis, USA by revered producer/engineer Brent Sigmeth. The resultant album is a bold step forward for the group cementing their place as an ensemble with an inventive and ground breaking approach to music making.
Simultaneously thunderous and hushed, “The Gentle War” is remarkably compelling. It is contemporary trio music at it’s finest, jazz influenced while creating a new sound free of comparisons and consistently surprising in its creativity.

THE GENTLE WAR - The Age Review - Melbourne 4 *

It's a combination of simplicity and, as the name of this Brisbane trio suggests, the unexpected, all driven by Sean Foran on piano in combination with the almost visceral bass of Pat Marchisella and drummer John Parker. The simple format is deceptive. These guys are powerful musicians who lay down some mighty depth charges. Check out, for example, Blues for the Space - With it's deeply evocative ballad style, it's anything but the blues. There is a two note sequence with two notes alternating on the piano - just two notes but it goes right through you. The piece TIME conveys a real emotional force but once more it's done with simplicity, opening will the bell like sounds from Parker. An aptly titled track, the three musicians create lots of space the leaves the listener hanging in aching suspense. Foran then comes in with some repeating notes and chords, slow and gentle, modulating down against one steady note from Marchisella; repeating like a heartbeat and adding to the tension. Some beautiful solo work, too, from Marchisella, he just makes that bass sing. You hear it in the early bars of the opening track CHASE, in which he and Foran chase eachother around, with Parker serving as timekeeper. There's so much going on here, so many surprises and exquisite moments. - Leon Gettler.