Figments

Anton Fig

Planula Records , 2015

http://www.antonfig.com

REVIEW BY: David Bowling

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 09/20/2015

So, what do you do when your boss of 29 years and over 5400 performances decides to retire? That’s the situation Anton Fig found himself in with late night television’s David Lettermen’s retirement. He was the drummer in Letterman’s house band, first on NBC and then on CBS.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

Fig has hit the concert and studio circuit again. He is currently traveling with blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa. He has also taken the time to re-release his only solo album, Figments, which was originally a limited edition issue from 2002.

Solo is probably the wrong word to describe the release as a number of his friends helped create the music, including Brian Wilson, Ivan Neville, the late Richie Havens, Ace Frehley, Al Kooper, Booker T, Chris Spedding, Lettermen bandmate Paul Schaffer, and more.  

Wilson layered in a wall of sound on the poignant “Hand On My Shoulder.” A special unlisted bonus at the end of the album is the unaccompanied harmonies without any distractions.

Richie Havens had a unique vocal style and it is upfront on “More Than Friends.” Ivan Neville provides a soulful bent for “Inside Out.”

Fig was a member of Frehley’s Comet for a spell and drummed on the Kiss albums Dynasty and Unmasked. Now, guitarist Frehley returns some musical favors and brings along Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach, who together help create the sonic “Know Where To Go.”

Decades of experience have given Fig the ability to know and understand his limitations. While he composed the album’s 13 tracks, he is smart enough to allow his friends to fill in the missing pieces.

Figments is an apt title and while it will not change the music world, it is an excellent coming out party for a drummer who has performed in front of millions of viewers, each day, for almost 30 years.

Rating: B

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