Anything is possible review in Donwtown Music Gallery 2001 in English

Review of Anything is Possible by Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery February 2001.

RON ANDERSON-Anything is Possible (Megaphone 022) I met this gonzo guitar/bass improviser almost 20 years ago right after he was in NY's Rat at Rat R (no wave-punk-improv-etc.) when he began jamming with friends of mine like Steve Buchanan and played in Yellow Tang. He eventually tired of the NY scene and moved to the bay area where he formed The Molecules (over-the-top improv-rock-etc.) who toured & recorded relentlessly. He later hooked up with Ruins leader/drummer Tatsuya Yoshida with whom he has recorded & toured in Europe and Japan. He is finally back here and has another new band called PAK - Ron is an irrepressible spirit and still an engaging player - so it is great to have him around here once more. A few months ago, he did a surprise set with Tatsusya and Zorn at the Knit of all places!?! Which brings us to his new release - a collaboration with some 25 musicians from Ron's varied past which includes Daniel Carter, Shelley Hirsch, Michael Evans, Gino Robair, 99 Hooker, Elliott Levin, Dave Slusser, Al Margolis (If, Bwana), John Myers and of course Tatsusya. Ron also plays keyboards, giant guitar harp (?), pocket trumpet and drum machine. This crazed 23 track cd was recorded from 1996-1999, in Oakland, San Jose, Osaka and NYC. The opening track is avant-funk-rocker with some twisted violin and synth weirdness which sets the pace for the strange brew coming up. Nice to hear Michael Evans's quavering theremin on "Talk it All Out" which is partially free but filled with explosive rockin' noise and alien child-like vocals. Tatsusya-like ultra-tight drum insanity is featured on many tracks, always giving the noisy sections shape and structure. The are many hilarious bits as well, like the full throttle shouting match on "Osaka" and mutant Residents-like vocals on "Jac's Bicycle...". Ron has done a great job of selecting the song-like sections from noisier bits and often using a drum machine in more inventive ways to help focus the more extreme tendencies of the other crazed players. A number of the strange tunes and especially "Dharma Bums" reminds me of Chrome - another former bay area favorite. Ron's tortured and ferocious guitar get a chance to wail on a number of these excursions, nicely done on the intricate prog/noise rocker - "Crank". A fun journey through a variety of mutant twists and turns. Bruce Lee Gallanter