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Improvijazzation Nation
Issue # 56 REVIEWS
Robin O'Brien - THE WAILING LAYER: It's been quite some time since we heard Don Campau's partner Robin... & it was worth waitin' for! Some boogie'in stoff on this lil' CD! Still a folk orientation, but there is a lot more percussion backing, beautiful electric & acoustic guitar works (by Robin, I assume?) on each of the pieces. "Rhythm Thing" is just what it says, with her vox emphasizing the beats just perfectly... a favorite cut for me... there's some humor in it, too! Must be somethin' 'bout that California air, too... track # 7 ("Sticks # 6") reminds me of Grace Slick a lot. There are some really nice effects on Robin's vocals on cut # 10, "America, My Baby", & "Love Song For Don - in three parts" just ain't what you might think it would be... heh! heh! Very creative, very enjoyable, & a definite MUST for collectors of "underground homemade". This album gets our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for listeners who enjoy folk/rock that "ain't what it used to be" (& I mean that in a good sense)! Contact at POB 9162, Santa Rosa, CA 95405, or thru Don's site at http://lonelywhistle.tripod.com/lwcatalog/ Rotcod Zzaj
Harlan Mark Vale - ENTELECHY: As we expected, th' desert has done something to Kramtones' music... was it th' cactii? Or too much sun while poundin' tires? This (latest) CD from Mark's studios in th' Arizona desert is full of wonder & life! As you listen to th' grand solo synth-washes & inspired drum lickz', you'll think yer' sittin' on th' edge of a universal rawk-show. Th' (?pent-up?) energy of 2 years (or more) of not playin' frequently is totally focused on th' creative process. There are some compositions that approach th' orchestral... on others, you'll think you are witness to th' "newest of the new" electronic wizardries. We are (like totally, man) proud to be able to carry this in th' Zzaj Productions catalog... you can look at the offering HERE, or listen to sample cuts (FULL songs) on THIS page! Vale is really in touch with the beauties that music can bring (always has been, actually), & on this carefully crafted album, he raises the bar from both the production and performance standpoints. This is some of the highest energy music to ever come out of Kramtones studios... it gets our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating for listeners who want both beauty and verve! Contact at Kramtones, PMB-2, PO Box-700, Ash Fork, AZ 86320, or via email to kramtones@bigfoot.com Rotcod Zzaj
The Abstractions - SONIC CONSPIRACY: After you've listened to th' opening piece on this grand piece of (musical) anarchy, you'll wonder how it could be a conspiracy... I mean that first cut is SO blatant, those being conspired against would know they couldn't escape th' onslaught. It's not only on that cut, either... Romus sax work is as effervescent & dynamic as ever I've heard him; Bob Marsh (vibes) is in a slightly different "zone" than when we heard him play live here in OlyWa a couple of months back, but it's still turf that all fans of improvised music will want to travel in... Scott Looney's percussion is flawless (as it was in th' live set at the 8th Annual Olympia Experimental Music Festival)... & our friend Ernesto Diaz-Infante's acoustic/amplified guitars are just as enchanting as ever. Th' dimension (that I hear being) added which makes th' album so spooky is th' VOCALS. Jesse Quattro is greatly responsible for that... lady is a MONSTER... accelerating at warp-speed on the opening cut, then joining all (track 15) in one of the most haunting vocal/instrumental improv selections you've ever heard before. Th' whole band is something you should keep your ears tuned to if you want to be in touch with where 21st century improvisation is going! SMASHING album, harsh for some listeners (perhaps), but work that easily merits a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for adventurers everywhere! Contact via email to info@edgetonerecords.com or on the site, at www.edgetonerecords.com/abstractions.html Rotcod Zzaj
Boundary Issues - SLEEP DEP: Yah, you'll be awake all nite with this groovin' lil' CD, no doubt! Dave Storrs' drums (alone) will have ya' rawk-in into th' wee hours - but, when you put th' heavy rhythms he lays down together with beautiful (& high-energy) guitar leads (some sections remind me a lot of the playing of my fellow collaborator Mark Kissinger) by Steve Willis & th' absolutely strange bass lines by Page Hundemer, you'll feel like you just invented a new variety of high-end meth or something! The music on this album departs from th' jazz/improv leanings that have become familiar on many "Louie Records" releases; turf more closely related to phunk'n'groove fusion come wailin' out at ya' - & it's a TREAT! Frequent readers of these pages will realize that we have been reviewing a LOT of "Louie Records" releases... & that is, of course, because their output is phenomenal! I declare this to be MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for jazz/improv listeners who want a taste of something (ever so) slightly different from Storrs & crew! This has CLASSIC potential! Contact at Louie Records (which has Mr. Storrs at the helm, actually), 644 SW 5th St., Corvalis, OR 97333, on their WWW pages, at www.peak.org/~louierec or via email to louierec@peak.org Rotcod Zzaj
Goodheart/Allen/Powell Trio - I CAN: Great pleasure to be reviewing this CD, since I just heard them perform live at the 8th Annual Experimental Music Festival. "Fresh" in my mind, if you will. Matthew Goodheart's piano playing (both keyboard & string-board) is flawless on the (mostly) composed pieces! Josh Allen is an impressive person, size would be described as extra-large, I guess... his sax work is of th' same stature... it is uniquely his, too, in th' sense of style; notes woven in/out between the keyboards & percussives in such a way that you often don't realize just how much he is contributing to the overall. Th' absolute joy & (good) humor that is evident in drummer Garth Powell's presence is pure sonic pleasure. During the festival, as well as on "I CAN", I was very favorably impressed by each member of the trio, as regards their ability to express clear exuberance for life & the living! If you haven't "experimented" with music(s) lately, this is a perfect point of entry! High-energy playing throughout the album, along with well defined musical personality make it easy to give it our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating! VERY enjoyable! Contact at www.roadcone.com or via email to garth@furmansound.com Rotcod Zzaj
Don Campau - WHATEVER STICKS: As in th' improvised world, Don's comps here come across with very free-wheeling feel throughout on this CD. Still very high-energy pieces (lots of nice little bells & otherstream sounds all across the tracks), but with a really relaxed feel! More voice-loopin' that I'm (necessarily) used to hearing from Don, but done with ultimate style... in fact, th' recording makes th' commercials & such come across in a more high tech fashion than many Zzaj releases along these lines (not that that's terribly important). Campau holds true to th' "D.I.Y." & home recording ethic (as he always has), but this listen is somehow more "experimental" than other CD's & tapes we've reviewed from his studios. I just loved the acoustic guitar on trak 8, appropriately titled "segment for guitar, organ, birds and burglar alarm"! 21 fantastic cuts for your listening pleasure. If you wanna' know where th' underground "came from", you've got to get hold of this one. MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by Zzaj! Contact via email to campaudj@jps.net at his web pages on http://lonelywhistle.tripod.com or via snail to PO Box 9162, Santa Rosa CA 95405 Rotcod Zzaj
Tunnels - PROGRESSIVITY: Shades of Mahavishnu, but in a 21st Century fusion mode, this CD has some of the most beautiful & forward-moving energy music we've ever heard (& we've heard a LOT)! Percy Jones does bass, John Goodsall is on guitar, with Mark Feldman furnishing excellent violin works! These guys KNOW what they're doing, & their love of music shines through with crystal clarity. In fact, as you listen through/to all 10 of the tracks, you can see that they are moving fusion in different directions than it's ever been... some very intricate rhythmic structures (that I just loved) & a kind of dedication to giving the listener a pleasant (tho' challenging) listen. Th' CD liner has a blurb that I'm taking partially out of context to illustrate my feelings after listening... "an abundance of intense blowing and other forms of sonic weirdness that may cause harmful side effects such as hives, palpitations, fibrillations, aneurysms, dizziness... do not play while operating heavy machinery or while under the influence of smooth jazz" - heck, th' description alone makes it worth listening to! & from our perspective, this merits our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, as well as the "PICK" of 2002 for "best fusion yet"! A keeper that every lover of musical energy will HAVE to have! Contact at Buckyball Records, POB 2034, Radio City Station, NYC 10101, via email to records@buckyballmusic.com or on the site at www.buckyballmusic.com Rotcod Zzaj
forgetthingswith - FORGETTHINGSWITH: Well, th' listener won't easily comply with this artist's name... hard to forget his unique piano/keyboard stylings, OR his vocals! The recording was done straight, "no editing, none" to quote him. His compositions/improvisations are crystal clear & packed full of energy! It (prob'ly) helps that I had just watched him perform (live) with Arrington De Dionyso... but, that's not th' crux o' da' biscuit here... this CD is one of the most interesting piano-oriented CD's I've ever heard (& that's really saying something, since I listen to so much music). He combines all registers of the keyboard (AND his voice) into an exciting adventure that keeps the listener on the edge all the way through! I really like his use of the bass end of the board, but he can range up & down with ease. Some improvisors (like myself) have high energy, but nowhere near the ability in scales & dexterity that "forgetthingswith" has. It's nearly impossible to "brand" his music, either... there are strong jazz chords across the album, but you can hear elements of classical in there as well. VERY enjoyable, but requiring attention to the details - "background" listeners need not apply. This gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us! Contact via his website at www.forgetthingswith.com or via email to forgetthingswith@yahoo.com Rotcod Zzaj
Rik Wright - ISOMORPHISM: Some of the Great Northwest's best players are involved in this super jazz/improv CD from Rik! I got the review copy directly from Dan Blunck ( alto/tenor/soprano player who I (only recently) met at Bert Wilson's house after reviewing Dan's music some years back). If you're familiar at all with the Seattle music/recording scene, you'll recognize Jack Straw Productions as a name that is automatically associated with excellence... the bulk of this recording was done there. Wright's guitar-playing is superb throughout, as is his mastery of the loop/sample material. Dan's reeds blend perfectly with the other players (basically a quintet, with a couple of guest artists), & his clear love of playing shines through. I was highly impressed with Reuben Radding's bass (and contrabass) playing... style-shifts occur across the album, but he keeps everything moving flawlessly. There's a drummer on here (Randy Doak) who is highly energetic - but doesn't let that get in the way (at all) of sharing the sonic turf with (all) the other artists. There are no "klunkers" on this album... & the range of the compositions goes all the way from electronique to high-end "big band"... my favorite trak is cut 5, "Speaking In Tongues"... don't flake out becoz' of th' title, either... only relijuun this haz to do with is jazz! All other traks are Rik's compositions, but "Tongues" was co-written with Blunck, & is an exciting tune that will help to define jazz in the 21st century... some great guitar by Wright on this one, as well! This effort gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for jazz fans of all persuasions! Contact at HipSync Records, P.O. Box 4187, Seattle, WA 98104, via email to info@hipsync.org or on the site at www.hipsync.org Rotcod Zzaj
Evan Parker - LINES BURNT IN LIGHT: Martin Davidson, of the EMANEM label, had sent this CD of Parkers' solo soprano sax improvisations in a pack of several other EMANEM releases. Davidson recorded this (live) at St. Michael and All Angels Church (London) in October last year. You will have to be a "dedicated" improv listener, or it may not be very enjoyable... OTOH, if you're reading this magazine, your ears are (at least) somewhat adventurous, & you'll find this a real treat. Evan's tones are intricate & almost like spiderwebs... in fact, hold that image... as you listen, you can see sunlight glinting off of the webs he weaves, noticing sonic nuances every time your focus comes back to the center. The images he paints are very dense, thick... rich tones that require intensity on the listeners' part. There are symphonies in his choruses with himself, but you must listen carefully. I wouldn't advise headphones... you'd be better off with a good stereo rig, sitting right in the center - but be sure you're not going to be disturbed - you must absorb the totality of his playing to come (even) close to comprehension. A VERY good album for those who love pure improvisation.. MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Contact through Martin Davidson, 3 Bittacy Rise, London NW7 2HH England, on the site at www.emanemdisc.com or via email to emanemdisc@aol.com Rotcod Zzaj
Rudis/Custodio/Diaz-Infante - CRASHING THE RUSSIAN RENAISSANCE: You'll hear lotz of "crashes" (as well as burns, singes & "ow-ies") on this masterful little improvised CD in from Pax Recordings. Ernesto's guitar is prominent in the mix, but the synth-lines (from Rudis, Matrix 12) are quite audible as well. If you've got th' history in your head, think (way) back to many of the TransMuseq works that Davey Williams & LaDonna Smith played on... now add 21st century synth/electronics & change th' guitar from purely electric to amplified acoustic, & you'll have a pretty good idea! HIGH energy, intricately woven textures & spacey vox that keep your mind racing, trying to anticipate th' next bend in th' groups' twisted itinerary. It is often very hard to capture this kind of improvisation on a recording, but this one was done exceptionally well... it's REALLY close to "being there". Fans of Bobby Darin & (other) bobby-soxers probably won't find this trips th' light fantastic for them... but dedicated improv listeners everywhere will HAVE to get this one... it's MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED... gets our "PICK" of the issue for "best electronic improvisation", too! Contact at Pax Recordings, POB 591138, San Francisco, CA 94159-1138, on the site at www.paxrecordings.com or through the promoter, tomas@paxrecordings.com Rotcod Zzaj
Jacintha - LUSH LIFE: This woman has a voice that will make you fall immediately in love... not (just) with her, but with life & it's ups & downs. There's soul in every one of her lines... not th' "Aretha" kind, much closer to Ms. Holiday, I'd say. Late nite & smoky kind of set... cats creepin' thru th' alleyways in pleasant pursuit of kitty pleasure... ya' know. Jacintha has a style that belongs to no one else & a voice other singers'd die for! With a power jazz-band backing her up (folks like Anthony Wilson on guitar, Darek Oles on bass, Bill Cunliffe with some masterful keyboards, + a whole host of other players), she grabs your mind on th' first note & doesn't let go until th' album is ALL over! I don't think I've ever heard a more abundant version of "Summertime"... in fact, I don't think you have, either. I can't get over how cosmopolitan her vocal style is... she connects with you in an instant! GREAT music for those in love with quality vocal jazz... gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us, as well as "PICK" of this issue for "best female jazz vocals"! Contact through www.groovenote.com Rotcod Zzaj
Soulfood - LATINO GROOVE: If those 4 margaritas have got th' blood pumpin' so hard in yer' feet that you've just GOT to get up & dance, this IS th' CD to do it to! Featuring dance/trance grooves from DJ Free (as well as DJ Jezus Juice), along with a cast of players too long to list here, this is one hoppin' little album! It's not the kind of music to meditate to (at all), but you sure can feel the fire these volkz generate. There is a kind of haunting sense of deja vu when listening, for those who grew up in th' (dreaded) disco generation, I suppose... but it is saved by the excellent guitar works and percussives. Some will consider it so much fluff, but I enjoyed it enough to give it a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Contact through the site at www.soulfoodmusic.com, via email to info@soulfoodmusic.com or at SOULFOOD Music & Media, PO Box 631, Chanhassen, MN 55317 Rotcod Zzaj
Sutrobath - AQUATICA: No doubt that it makes sense to have a title like "Aquatica" for a band so close to th' Puget Sound... they are, in fact, from Port Angeles, where the proximity to the water makes it a natural. Some B-I-G rawkin' sound that takes th' listener back to the high end of epic rock. It's definitely a "big band" (nearly orchestral) experience, & I especially enjoyed their ability to evolve simple acoustic patterns into full-blown psych-trippin' productions! Thought I was listenin' to (th' best parts of) "Abbey Road" on cut 3, "Never Been Better"! Excellent compositions, wonderful recording & clear love of th' music combine to give the listener an experience they won't soon be forgetting! Good Gourd aw'mighty, shards of BTO on those power git-ars on "Solo Tonight". This group will go FAR... keep your ears on them - 'coz they know how to use th' music to build your emotions up to a fever pitch... "Holiday" (my favorite trak) is a perfect example of a tune that is accessible to ANY listener with energy in their blood... just KICKZ', man! They get a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us, as well as th' "PICK" of this issue for "best epic rock"! Contact at 620 East Lauridsen, Port Angeles, WA 98362, via email to sutrobath@hotmail.com or on their site at http://www.sutrobath.com/indexhtml.html Rotcod Zzaj
Chris Reddy - MEADOWLARKING: Beautiful lil' CD popped in through th' mail slot, featuring Dracut, Massachusetts' guitarist Chris's fantastic playing... boy knows how ta' (literally) dance on them stringz', kidz... GREAT music! Some nice acoustic guitars down under, close to where th' bass riffs keep th' beats going. It seems unfortunate (to me) that there's no website, & th' "promo" sheet had little info to glean more about the artist(s) from. We'll be sure to contact him, though... we want to know more about Chris - before th' "big guyz" get hold of him! Absolutely rawkin' guitar play that lets th' listener soar to th' stratosphere (& beyond). I hear some strains of Jeff Beckian stuph in there, but style-wise, it's a lot closer to my playin' pal VisionEar (Jim Konen) over in Pontiac, Michigan. Crisp recording, excellent licks & a clear love of playing, along with a heavy dose of talent make this album an absolute WINNER - a definite KEEPER! Gets our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Our only complaint was that there weren't enough trax to get a full "high" out of it! Keep your EARS on this player - you'll be seeing/hearing much more from him in th' months & years to come! Contact at Digital Kitchen Productions, c/o Chris Reddy, 188 Haverhill St., Dracut, MA 01826, or via email to digitalkitchen@attbi.com Rotcod Zzaj
Dana Cunningham
- DANCING AT THE GATE: Subheaders on the CD jacket say "contemplative
piano", which automatically makes me think - "new agey", "boring"
& 100 other not-so-flattering adjectives. That shows just how wrong first
impressions can be... but, you must listen to Dana's expressive solo
keyboards to appreciate th' dance she's able to do with her fingers!
"Reflective" is one of the meanings in the Thesarus... in this case, Ms.
Cunningham paints calm (though very much alive) sonic reflections of the wonders
around her in New Hampshire. You won't find any improv "scorchers" here...
no "tearin'-up-th'-keys" or treks to oblivia... simple walks through the
countryside, breathing in the beauty and exhaling very creative sound pictures. If
you love solo piano that takes you thru the full range of emotions on the palette, you'll
agree with me - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - a definite KEEPER! Contact is Dana
Cunningham, P.O. Box 512
Jackson NH 03846 USA, via email to info@danacunningham.com
or on her site, at http://www.danacunningham.com/
Rotcod Zzaj
Isis - NEW DIRECTIONS: This beautiful singer was discovered and produced by Arturo Sandoval. Though th' release sheet declares it as "Latin Jazz", it leans more (to my ear) in a "jazz singer" direction. This may be because it has a pretty even mix of Spanish and English songs, with old standards like "Misty" & "Stormy Weather" on it. My favorite track is "Stormy"... th' blues with a down&dirty jazz arrangement. Any way you listen, you'll hear th' talent Isis has for diggin' down deep & touching th' listeners' ears! I doubt there will be a lot of improvised music fans who will rush out to buy this, but they'll be missing a very pleasant & relaxing listen. Gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us! Strong production & heavy backup band have a lot to do with that, but Isis is clearly a talent on th' rise! Contact at POB 164833, Miami, FL 33116-4833, or via email to chicamamey@aol.com Rotcod Zzaj
Deepak Chopra/Brian Scott Bennett - WHISPERS OF HEALING: Another "musical healing" CD in the series released by "The Relaxation Company". We reviewed one of them in the last issue, "Whispers Of Now"; very enjoyable. On this outing, Bennett's music backs reading by Brittney Browne (of texts composed by Deepak. The compositions (both the music and the spoken word) lead the listener very gently into a state of introspection that could probably be achieved (nearly) as easily by meditation techniques; but it is my belief that the music can/does assist one in getting to the proper attitude much more quickly. Don't expect these albums to perform miracles... you must focus in during time that is reserved for renewal! I enjoyed this one very much... it gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us - particularly for therapists needing something that will work very effectively. Contact via the site at www.therelaxationcompany.com or via email to info@gaiam.com Rotcod Zzaj
Greg Grant - MUSTH: We reviewed a great little CD from Greg in issue # 55, "BISBE STREET". This album (came in the same package) features Greg's intriguing alto & nylon string guitar against equally enchanting drums and percussion by Johnathan Bernson. Much less formatted, a lot closer to improvised... though the hardcore in improv-land will protest that it's not "out" enough. Don't let that stop you from enjoying the sensitive and emotional excursions through the spaces between the notes, though. The players are totally in synch with each other, and never let go of the awareness necessary for creation. I find myself enjoying this even more than "BISBE STREET", most likely because it is improvised. "Across The Courtyard" (track 3) is a wonderful example of what can happen when the energies are allowed to gel slowly, actually growing into a tune. Some of the cuts could be (just) a little longer, perhaps, but (I understand), you record what you play! For listeners who want music that is highly original with tasteful colors, this gets our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Contact at POB 191 Fortine, MT 59918, via email to greg@alteredstaterecords.com or on the site at www.alteredstaterecords.com Rotcod Zzaj
SoundDoctrine - AN INCIPIENCE: PERSEVERANCE - THE SOUNDTRACK TO A NON EXISTENT MOVIE: Well - if you can get past th' title (& of course, I'm not positive I've got it all down right) - you'll be RAWK-in! Jere B, who sent th' accompanying letter/promo sheet, declares they are an "Alternative Christian Funk Band"... & PHUNK-ee they IZ! Sum heavy bass-poppin', kickin' drums, keyboards that're highly reminiscent of Ramsey Lewis (or, in spots, George Duke), some great synth-lickz & lotza' other kewl stuff to git yer' toes tappin' & lettin' th' gospel flow! Good Gourd-a-might-ee, if they'd a' had music with this kind of high energy when I was a baby Boy Scout, I'd still be dancin' at th' altar. As tongue-in-cheekly as that is rendered, there's an element of truth, to be sure... these folks could have held my attention, even at my highest state of irreverence... & I can't help but believe that th' message they preach through their music would be far more attractive (to thee earz' as WELL as th' soul) than all th' finger-pointin' & brimstone I waded through (I was a P.K., yah). This is a kickin' soul-influenced album that gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us - along with th' "PICK" of this issue for "best funk&soul"! Be sure & SEND us yer' NEXT release! Contact via email to jereb@cboss.com or through their site at www.sounddoctrine.com (though I didn't see any links to the CD there). Rotcod Zzaj
Jane Blackstone - NATURAL HABITAT (NYC): Definitely uptown jazz, with some kickin' vocals by Jane... & she CAN kick! Her voice has some amazing qualities... sultry as well as sad; joyful as well as jovial; light as well as heavy... well, you get the idea! Some wonderful jazz players behind her (she plays piano, too, tho' not on this album). This isn't dark-blue-smoky-room stuff, tho', it's more like jazz-on-the-garden-lawn, if you get my drift. The highlight for this listener is her ability to weave a scat/improv in to a heavy standard ("Without A Song") & still make it come off sounding like it was s'posed to be part of th' original recording. I really enjoyed the emotion conveyed on track 3, "The Rainbow I See In Your Eyes", too. This is our first listen to Jane's jumpin' jazz vocals... a really pleasant & sophisticated album that no true jazz fan will have trouble with me declaring as HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Contact through her site, at www.janeblackstone.com or via email to jb@janeblackstone.com Rotcod Zzaj
the TRADE - I MI LUNASA: "rich, dark sound" is what th' promo sheet has at th' very top... really a great description of what you'll hear on this cool CD in from Yo'hio! Definitely alternative, no improvisatory excursions for your ears. It's a 4-piece that will quickly wrap yer' ears into their mystery... traces of some of my psychedelic wanderings in th' late '60's as well. Enhanced video here, too... b/w, nicely put together, as an added attraction. They've got boundless energy for th' playing & Robin Wedlock's vocal style is - in a word - "breathless". You can hear a heavy dose of "attitude", but with their talent for rawkin' - they're entitled. Definitely late-night FM trip kinda' stuff, with some heav-ee guitars throughout! Anyone who digs on "th' trip" ev'ry once in a while will dig this like an archaeologist in Egypt! Gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who want their music to breath new life into their ears! Contact at Jetdog Records, 3380 Pendleton St., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221-1138, via email to robin@thetradeonline.com or on their site, at www.thetradeonline.com Rotcod Zzaj
Sopi - FANIA: Sopi is from Sengal in West Africa. On this (her debut) CD, she treats us to some heartfelt & soulful treatments of songs (mostly) in her native languages (Peulh, Wolof, Sarakhole and Mandingue)... the listener will realize very quickly, though, that it is not the earthly language that is important - she speaks in the language that spirit converses in! There is a fair amount of call/response here, but Sopi's vocals are strong and provide a clear presence throughout the album. The musics that accompany her are in full energy mode, even approaching the orchestral; for that reason, there are far too many players to list here, but in addition to the rhythm (which one might expect) there is also some beautiful acoustic guitar work. I'm impressed enough to rate this as HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for any listener who is willing to dig deeper than the words (or the language they're rendered in). A GREAT album! Contact at Tinder Records, 80 Mark Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903, or via e-mail to sandrine@tinderrecords.com Rotcod Zzaj
Meri Von Kleinsmid - CHI-TAPE: Meri sent this great CD collage of "life in Chicago" - accents & all. The liner notes (written by our friend Christopher DeLaurenti) point out that Meri's original tape was "snatched" from various sound bytes while she and her husband were living in thee Windy City (they reside in the Seattle area now... she is an active member of Seattle's experimental music collective, "SoniCabal"). Hi & lo fi are married in a fashion that paints a grim portrait of th' turf some poor souls (in the midwest) inherit... ads, Christian gospel radio from both sides of th' trax, & pristine polkas will enlighten you as to th' absolute drudgery that can be experienced (I'm quite familiar with it, 'coz I grew up about 300 miles east of there). 62 snippets that give you a taste of a life you'll never want to live... heh! heh! This won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it is a unique enough sonic experience to merit a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who want to hear what some folks hear day-in, day-out. A definite chronicle of Chi-town in th' early '90's! Contact at www.ovenguard.com, www.unitcircle.com or via email to merivk@justice.com Rotcod Zzaj
Jean-Pierre Saccomani - MUSIC FOR TIME: Very spacy ambient pieces on this CD in from France. Our (long time) friend/contributor Jean Luc H. Bertehelot mixed and mastered one of the tracks, so I'm assuming there is some connection (musically) there as well. Saccomani works in a very orchestral frame to etch musical mem'ries for your pleasure over time. His compositions use build and release to strong effect, and will stay in your brain for days, weeks... even years! You won't experience these pieces as you would a rock tune, obviously... they are the kind of music that serves as background for peaceful dreams (or nitemares, depending on what you ate just before retiring)... but you will not soon forget them, either. This was particularly true of the title trak, which is my favorite on the album. Headphones are strongly advised, as that's the best way to hear what Jean-Pierre is saying to you. If you can't settle back for an hour or so, you may not enjoy this... but if you can, you'll agree that (for space/ambient fans) this is MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Deep and invasive music with a few pleasant sonic surprises. Contact at 11 Avenue Montaigne, 77270 Villeparisis, France, or via email to jean-pierre.saccomani@wanadoo.fr Rotcod Zzaj
Frank O. Pollizzi Band - PROFITABLE MUSIC FOR THE YOUTH OF AMERICA: Profitable in what sense, we wonderz', Frank? More'n likely, it's th' historical merit that makes it worth gettin' this great lil' CD! History is relived, in a certain sense, as Mr. Pollizzi plays guitars, drumz & bass that are hauntingly similar to thee Zzaj gourd - UNCA' FRANK (as in Zappa). OTOH, Zappa would've prob'ly never condoned such a lotta' loop-dub stuph... he would have approved of th' overall musical experience, tho'... rawkin' guitars that stick a B-I-G (middle) finger in th' face(s) of thee moralists & traditionalists! Is it destined to become a collectors item? Only for collectors of insanity. Is it ROCK? Waall... almost... it IS independent & energetic music that is highly creative; & that sez' enough for this reviewer to rate it a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. If you dig th' obviously odd - GET THIS ONE! Contact at 3649 W. Pony Trail, Tucson, AZ 85742, or via email to hpbadger@earthlink.net Rotcod Zzaj
Diane Renay - SOME THINGS OLD & SOME THINGS NEW: Some of the songs/styles on Diane's CD will make you (if you're old enough) nostalgic for old episodes of "Surfside 6" or "Hawaiian Eye".... some of those old shows that Connie Stevens used to sing in. Actually, she sings th' kinds of songs I grew up on... Pat Boone (in his heyday, before th' scandals) & Patty Duke ("It's My Party") kinda' stuff! It's a double CD, so plan on lots of chocolate malts & bubble-skirts in yer' den to get mentally prepared for the listening. There certainly won't be too many fans of improv/jazz beatin' th' record store doors down to snatch this album up... but th' katz' I used to smoke cigz' with outside th' soda shop (imagine they're STILL hangin' out there, too) will prob'ly dig this. All in all, a nice enough remembrance to get it a RECOMMENDED for those listeners who wanna' remember their first ('60's) date. Contact at Diane Renay, Inc., POB 96836, Las Vegas, NV 89193 Rotcod Zzaj
The Horse Cock Kids - JAYROCK: We reviewed these volkz' way back in issue # 28... so itz' been a few issues (& a few years) since we heard them. Still really homespun & definitely D.I.Y! There are sections where it sounds like th' ol' "Rubber Soul" recording sessions, very "Beatles-zy"... others where you could swear th' "Doobie Brothers" were reachin' out to touch yer' ears (track 11, "Fast One"). As in th' first outing, there's lots of acoustic guitar & some nice vocal harmonies comin' off. Since there are 50 cuts on th' album, none are longer than a minute & some are only a few seconds long. It's a fun thang that merits a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for all listeners who want a taste o' homespun... & definitely in th' original spirit of D.I.Y. To contact "HCK"... visit them on th' pages at www.xbeat.net, via email to donald@xbeat.net Rotcod Zzaj
Roger Espinoza - CAFE FUEGO: Lovers of luscious Latino guitar & passionate percussion everywhere will (or ought to, anyway) FLOCK to buy this one! Roger's guitars are enchanting, but (at the same time) persuasive & powerful. If your blood hasn't "moved" in a while, it WILL when you listen to this! Espinoza has a strong style on the strings, but not in an overpowering sense... he communicates a sense of life lived in all it's passion (and/or fury). Excellent recording that makes all the instruments come through the speakers as though he was playing a concert for you in your living room. The CD is a delight to listen to, one of the best Latino-based musical albums I've heard in the last year... it gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us. High-spirited & lovely music for an afternoon/evening of great listening! Contact through the pages at www.worldmusic.com or via the publicist (MUSIK INTERNATIONAL), at media@musikinternational.com Rotcod Zzaj
Hook - HE'S THE PANTS: Or, so th' promo sheet... AND th' website... AND th'... well, you get thee idea. Th' difference betwixt Hook & so many other pretenders to th' "underground" throne, tho', is that he actually understands those beats... knows how to compose something that's meaningful to thee ear, th' mind, th' phroggin' heart, even! I am impressed - which I'm sure was his intent - & you will be too. Really broad range of styles, synths with progbeatz', spirited treks that border on th' fringe o' hip-hop & some nice echoed vox stuph that is really blended nicely into th' mix. Th' only problem I had with it is that there wasn't even a trak-list, or credits... you can go to his site, at www.hookthecaptain.com/index2.html & find a lot of information, but I'm just old-fashioned enuff ta' want some kind o' cover art. Matters not a whit, tho', 'coz this kid's got some great rhythms (very danceable, too) & a clear musical sense of where he's goin' with it... gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us! We're hopin' Hook will send more of these excellent releases our way. Contact at th' afore-noted site, or via email to hookthecaptain@aol.com Rotcod Zzaj
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