Label: unsigned

Producer: OnOffOn

Release Date: 2005

I first introduced myself to ONOFFON in late 2004 when I began conversing with Von Babasin on anything from the talent he and his fellow band members possessed to the influences his father Harry “The Bear” Babasin’s career had made on his son. Over the past year, Von has presented himself to be a genuinely kind person as well as a passionately devoted musician that has allied himself with a tremendous team of like minded and fantastic performers that are, in amalgamation, the life-boat of ONOFFON. This is a band that has established 'permanent presence' in the hearts of those who have been fortunate enough to experience their music.

It is now that I am pleased to share with you a glimpse into the soulful feelings brought fourth by the playing of this album in its entirety.

This album, Bridge to Presage, begins with Remembrance - a silhouette of horned vibrancy that is ear penetration at its most blissful level. A track that truly is an appetizing opening to the lavishly delectable sounds that soon follow in its deluxe and rather grand footsteps.

Andante is a cocktail comprised of the slight hints of a folk-like presence that has been beautifully accented with the sound that makes it Birdland. Soon after the intro, the track metamorphosizes into the eclectic solution to an urge one might have to break into a graceful and agile movement of dance. Listening to this track is like watching one of those scenes in a Frank Sinatra film where a couple is walking down the streets of New York while holding hands in a calm manner during the slower aspects of the track. Then, all of a sudden, the female in the flowing red satin dress is spun out and pulled back by her partner to commence the wildly lavish dancing that everyone within sight breaks into. Even the small ma and pa shop owners can't help themselves from getting into the seemingly choreographed madness on the streets of Manhattan.

You know those certain tracks that make you yearn to see the live presentation? Ostinato is one that rises into that most desired of categories. If I close my eyes really tight, I can see everyone in the venue going off into their own little corner of the world while exercising just how far to the side, back and forward they can move their necks without causing a muscle to sprain or a head to be trusted clean off in that beatnick way of conveying their sheer and utter appreciation for the band's tirelessly perfected efforts.

If the talent of the members of this band could be converted and measured in pounds for the purpose of human comprehension, its combined weight could only be determined by astronomic mathematical equations. It would have to involve scientific notation for the lack of adequate paper supply on earth. Duetto Voci Eguali has reminded me that there is a high concentration of saltiness in these tears that are rolling down my cheeks in numbers as they seep into my mouth and onto my tongue leaving a thirst that could only be quenched by the repeat button on my CD player being pushed. That button would be unsurprisingly pushed so hard that my finger could quite possibly break right through the other side of the beastly metallic piece of machinery!

Some artists have had children who follow in their footsteps. Those children don’t always step into their parents’ exact prints; they may strive for a career in the music industry but fall into a genre on the complete other end of the spectrum. In this case, Von Babasin has taken the very best of the influences of his father Harry “The Bear” and strived to preserve the right amount of today’s need for nostalgic appreciation and put a perfect twist of what we have learned since into OnOffOn's innovatively sound albums. Giulivo (con Guisto) confirms that these footsteps were destined and neither path was ever strayed for a moment.

But then we have a serious case of 'Oh my my MY!!!" …Percossa e Ottone Rapsodia… one of 'thee' most original pieces of music I have EVER heard in my now seemingly sheltered little life! It’s just best to tell you exactly what happened at first play. My eyes bulged out of my head in a shock and amazement that people pay large quantities of currency for in order to have this happen regularly! I shot up out of bitter resentment for my chair and its constraint, and I slammed and locked my door so that no one would be able to see what was about to occur. It then began. I went into a writhingly ultraistic frenzy of dance that made me feel as though I was in the forests of a far off place practicing in a ceremony to bless a tribe’s night of hunting with plentiful bounty!

Listening to Perdendosi instantly reminds me of a scene in a 1940 “who done it” film where the lonely detective with the long overdue five o’clock shadow takes the last greedy gulp of the forty ounce bottle of warm whiskey while stewing over that long legged blond knockout with the lips that could stain time with scarlet red when he should really be trying to find the rat who murdered his partner ten years ago.

Sonata a Tre … A beauty that I would have playing in my (inkling) child’s nursery during my nightly adornment of lullaby, a beauty that I would use to teach the child about music with as it grew so that it would comprehend the sheer essence of the principles that make music such an amazing part of life. This track provides that kind of timelessness that would comfort that same child in its adulthood with the vivid memory of what orginally thrust them into the universal love of music.

Finale is the high grade bass fillet on a dish that has been served with a rich and very saxxy sauce, a side of colorful accord and a glass of drumbuie on the rocks, satisfying the greatest hunger of one’s entire existence. After which a romantic night of dancing on the floor as well as in the black satin sheets is sure to follow. The accompanying finale is when you get up from the bed and step onto the balcony of the penthouse to look out at the oversized moon that further lights up the night city skies…

“Ladies and gentleman may I have your attention please?…I’d like to propose a toast… to ONOFFON for their wonderful performance this evening that I’m sure all of you will agree was one of the best that we have had the pleasure to feast our ears upon in many many years…(audience uproar in applause). (speaker smiles and waits for several minutes for the audience to die down so that he may continue)… 'And might I also add that this group has far surpassed their reputable status of excellence in previous performances?...(audience uproar in applause). (Speaker to the band) 'I for one have considered this to be a memorable occasion, and due to the fact that our mouths will still be ajar for the next two weeks, we would all love to see you perform what we have just been a part of a thousand times over and, as you can see Dear Sirs, we are in a state of anxiously premature anticipation for your next album…(audience absolutely freaks out in a unique whistling capacity like the sound of multiple freight trains in one yard at the same time) 'We wish you all of the best and we thank you endlessly for coming here tonight…Raise your glases…Cheers to ONOFFON (Standing ovation for five minutes that even the janitors (who abandon their duties for the night to listen to the show) participate in.

 

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