Ishq by Paranoise

THORNE PALMER-Lead vocals/lyrics

Thorne Palmer studied voice and composition at the University of Connecticut and the Hartt School of Music. After he forgot everything they taught him he started playing punk and reggae around Connecticut Massachusetts and New York.

ROHAN GREGORY- Electrified Violin

Rohan Gregory played with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page on their last tour. He Has recorded with the Cajun-Klezmer funk band Hypnotic Clambake. He tours regularly with the Klezmatics, including a Great Woods appearance with Itzahk Perlman. He has performed with Joni Mitchell and his own group, the Arden String Quartet.

BOB LARAMIE-Bass

Bob Laramie has almost 3 decades of experience. He has studied with Michael Manring and played for 8 years with Matt "Guitar" Murphy. He toured Europe twice with trumpet player Laco Dezi. He has played with Moralli Coryelle and Hip Hop/Jazz musician, Saskia Laroo. Bob Builds his own basses, which are as esoteric as his playing, and has repeatedly won the Hartford Advocate reader's poll as "Best Bassist".

GEOFFREY BROWN-Drums/Percussion

Geoffrey Brown first gained recognition with The Monster Band,winner of the Hartford's best Funk Band. In 1997 he created Ninja Rhythms, a solo act consisting of percussion and vocal loops created live. He performs as a harmonic singer and percussionist with the critically acclaimed group Lehland Burr led by overtone singer Jim Cole. He also regularly appears with the funk/rock band Superlove, featuring guitarist Jen Leigh. He was a member of the world renowned Bayonne Bridgemen drumline and has performed in the Far East

ISHQ REVIEWS

"Multi-instrumentalist and composer Jim Matus, along with his band Paranoise is on the cutting edge of the current crop of (World/Rock) bands....an authentic African/Middle Eastern ethnic spirit is at its core embellished with the power and rhythm of rock...This is an outstanding release that hits the mark on every track".

-EXPOSE

"I beg of you, do yourself a favor and check out Paranoise. This is one of those rare chances that one is given to witness the way an entirely new style of music evolves, and even those who are not particularly interested in the band's left wing lyrical exploits will surely find merit in the band's unique musical approach........a band on the crucial verge of reaching perfection through a mastering of the humanly primitive; that is, of the primeval inner sanctum of mankind. The fusion between rock and world music that Paranoise masters is never less than breathtaking".

-PROGFREAKS (Mexico)

"Paranoise are back with a new album, Ishq, and once again this band shows that they are the trailblazers for all those bands trying to merge world music with heavy progressive rock. They have introduced a myriad of ethnic elements, most of them from the Middle East, and have managed to come up trumps once again. Each time I listen to this music, I can really feel the musical bridge that Paranoise is attempting to build between East and West, something which few musicians have managed to fulfill, Peter Gabriel being a notable example. Once again Paranoise have surpassed even themselves,.make sure you don't miss out on Ishq!"

-Dutch Progressive Rock Pages

This one is simply astounding ....Even if you have no interest in 'world music'

per se, keep in mind that Paranoise is to world music as progressive rock is to ordinary rock.

-KINESIS

"This new CD from Paranoise might just be one of the most unique yet bizarre releases in quite some time. Band leader Jim Matus has taken the style that Peter Gabriel made so famous a few years back, fusing rock and world music, and taken it a step further. There is a lot going on here.....the end result is a very demanding listen, and an almost multi-cultural experience. It is a unique sound experience that deserves credit for its originality.

-SEA OF TRANQUILITY

"Enter into the world of Paranoise - where politics and social-consciousness are fully intertwined with music. When you enter Paranoise's world, you find traditional African, Indian, and Middle-Eastern 'World-music' sounds and instrumentation mixed with prog-influenced instruments and sound. With 'ISHQ', the result is a challenging and rewarding experience".

-PROGNOSIS

" Both totally original and heavy as f**k, I can promise that Ishq is unlike anything you have heard before ....an astounding piece of work which is both unique and progressive in the true sense of the word....This is the most original album I have heard in a long time, but I'm just a little worried that playing it in the dark may have conjured up some ancient spirits in my living room"

-WONDROUS STORIES (England)

"With Ishq, the group has transformed a novelty into a fully-integrated fusion of genres...The virtuosity of the musicians (this is one of the strongest hard-rock rhythm sections of the decade), exciting vocal performances, and highly successful synthesis of ethnic traditions into a rock idiom make Ishq a must-have for any music fan with an ear opened to the third world and concerns about globalization -Strongly recommended."

-ALL MUSIC GUIDE

"Compared to their previous album, Private Power, this release is a step forward

in every respect launching the band into the big leagues of modern progressive music.....a fascinating sound collage that boils over with intensity...Ishq is one of the most significant releases of 2001"

-THE GIANT PROGWEED

"This world has seen many albums entitled "western rock meets african culture" but most of them are useless like an elephant's fart. PARANOISE instead are honest, sound honest and the music lets you feel that the mastermind of this band has lost his heart in Northern Africa and that he loves the indigenous people, the culture and the land. This album is an essential item for fans of world-music, folk rock, ethnorock and sophisticated hardrock. Concerning the political message this album (unfortunately) is more up to date than even the band wanted it to be. An outstanding and spectacular album."

-D.U.R.P. (Germany)

"Time to expand your mind"

-THE HARTFORD ADVOCATE

"Ishq continues along the same lines as Private Power, but is much more mature

in its melding of recordings of traditional ethnic folk and spiritual songs with rock instruments. The weaving of ancient and modern sounds here is more seamless..... They're really getting the hang of how to make this concept work."

-NEW GIBRALTER ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PROG. ROCK

"David Byrne once made a statement that he hated the term "World Music" when applied to musicians who made music that was not Western-style, because it implied an "us vs. them" mentality. While His Quirkiness may have a point there, it seems that there may be some exceptions to that thinking, and Paranoise may very well be one of them. Original and fresh, this album should appeal to the senses of any "world music" enthusiast, while offering plenty to the progger as well. It's not often you hear something so different that it's impossible to pigeon-hole into some kind of convenient category, but Paranoise might be just the group that can escape that kind of judgment".

-REELS OF DREAMS UNROLLED

"One musician that quickly stands out is violinist Rohan Gregory. His style of violin playing reminds me of the violin work in Gunesh; his virtuoso-like melodies mix Middle Eastern scales with Asian nuances. Overall, this is an excellent album. In fact, ISHQ is one of the top new albums that I've heard in 2001. Anyone into Peter Gabriel's WOMAD, and world music in general will love the music here"

-GROUND AND SKY

"They draw from traditional songs from Afghanistan and Morocco and they make us almost breath in the dust in the air...one cannot remain indifferent to this and we're easily caught singing along (even not understanding a single word)..They really rock, what else can I say, just go for it!!"

-PROG-PT

Is this the soundtrack to a United Nations convention? Or is it an example of how music is the common language that unites every man, woman or child on this planet? On "ISHQ" (elements of) traditional songs spanning three continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe are combined with a 4-6 minute rock format.....the song writing is excellent containing unusual yet challenging rhythms and song structures as well as ear-friendly hooks. "ISHQ" has gained a prominent place in my diverse music collection.

-EDGE OF TIME (Netherlands)

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