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Fromthe box of freebies often comes the most interesting and challengingsurprises. This one is particularly enigmatic: no artist info, no titleand no track titles (some e-sleuthing revealed three: 'Juunigatsu','Koutetsukan', 'Makugine'). Just a four track, 16 minute CD-R with b/winsert photo of a rocky stream. Ah, but the music is far from tranquil.It's more befitting of an industrial wasteland. Molten masses ofoverdriven sound are forged to cantankerous rhythmic clangor andglitches. It's blistering and menacing alright but also near melodicand even ambient at times. Hitohana has meticulously placed and shapedthe debris into noisy songs. The third track offers the first and lastrespite by abruptly flipping the on/off switch on the din, deceivingthough as discharges continue to erupt and the noise ultimately returnsfor its revenge. Powerful stuff.
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Austinite Michael "Thor" Harris is practically a modern day renaissance man: multi-instrumentalist, painter, art and bicycle repair instructor and environmentally conscious DIY home builder. He has appeared on many others albums and performed live locally and nation-wide, but he's probably best known outside Austin city limits as percussionist for Michael Gira's The Angels of Light.He thoroughly confounded and impressed me on the Angels' debut tour in 1999 with his highly energetic and physical attacks, alternated conversely with delicate melodies and textures. For "Fields of Innards" Thor (with fellow Austinite Rob Halverson) has constructed, as the subtitle states, "a hand played ambient record" that shares sensibilities with the Angels' more subtle backdrops. The disc is comprised of a dozen untitled, instrumental tracks all less than five minutes apiece, but consider it one continuous 45 minute piece. It sounds like Thor used many of the same tools here as with the Angels: percussion, hammer dulcimer, xylophone, glockenspiel, vibes and water bowls. This percussive palette of mostly mellow dings and pings is augmented with stringed plucks and drones, a bit of organ and found sounds such as trodden leaves. It's all very tranquil and graceful, carefully composed and impeccably recorded, trickling by like a refreshing, remote brook. But don't think of it merely as ear candy for there's not a trace of New Age ickiness is to be found anywhere. Thor's approach is both experimental and melodic, with occasional accents reminiscent of music boxes, the Middle East and the Far East. "Fields of Innards" is a genuinely affective ambient album that has become my new nightly soundtrack for sleep. Check out http://maryt.home.texas.net/thorsite/ for more info.
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Tiger Saw are from Newburyport, Massachusetts, or, at least, that's where they began. After writing most of their debut alone in Los Angeles, Dylan Metrano brought those songs home to Newburyport, where he found like-minded souls to help him bring those creations to life. In listening to their records, it seems he found more along the lines of kindred spirits who were lying in wait for this sound to come along. It is not a wholly original sound (are there any of those anymore?), as Tiger Saw play primarily slowcore music in the vain of Low or 27. But it is a new twist, as most songs possess a jazz structure, but a rock-like instrumentation. And it is a lovely listen.
Kimchee
"Blessed Are the Trials We Will Find" is Tiger Saw's sophomore release after their self-released 1999 debut. The songs found here will appeal to you because of their sheer beauty, and the strong ensemble that performs them. The duel-vocal syrup of Juliet Nelson and Metrano is a perfect complement to the instrumentation, mainly guitar and drums, but with occasional strings, organ, and even melodica thrown in for good measure. The thing that stands out the most, though, is Metrano's lyrics, which, thankfully, never seem to rest on one particular subject or genre. True, he does write of relationships between people more than once on "Trials," but he also writes of being lost at sea, and of being alone. And you know instantly what he speaks of, and where he's been. It's that familiar in listening. The two instrumental tracks also show off the versatility of the band, and the comfortable way the have with their instruments. Also included on the CD is a video for a beautiful song called 'Nightingale' that is quite well done. Check out Tiger Saw: you'll be glad you did. -
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Last year we got the ultimate party album courtesy of the Avalanches.Well, summer's on the way, and that one was played to death last year.Still great, but time for something new. So, Soulwax, show us whatyou've got.
Belgian band Soulwax, previously known as the rockers behind lastyear's minor hit 'Much Against Everyone's Advice', have thrown thekitchen sink into this mix tape, and some of the parts have got jumbledup. So, where Skee-lo and the Breeders are listed together, they aretogether. He raps acapella over a Cannonball instrumental. Shouldn'twork, but does. Ditto Basement Jaxx shouting over Emerson, Lake andPalmer, or Salt N' Pepa calling on us to 'Push It, Push It real good'to the strains of Iggy and the Stooges. We also get Destiny's Childdoing the 'Independent Women' thing with 10cc's mellow 'DreadlockHoliday' in the background. You may be wondering what an albumfeaturing Kylie Minogue, Destiny's Child and Basement Jaxx is doinggetting a review in the Brain. Well, this particular album alsofeatures the Residents, the Velvet Underground, Adult and Peaches. Andit blends Dolly Parton into Royksopp, which can't be bad.
Don't know how they got copyright for all this, but they did, sometimesthrough licensing cover versions, or sampling samples (MichaelJackson's 'Billie Jean' slips through the net on this technicality,using a dance record which samples the original).
Basically, this album is enjoyed in two stages. First listen or two,you're comparing the new 'versions' with the originals, and sniggeringaway at how wonderfully post-modern the whole thing is. But soon you'rejust tapping your foot, and calling your friends around. It's just tooinfectious, too catchy, it puts too wide a smile on your face not tolove it.
Summer's here. Don't worry, your Low records will still be there in theFall. For now, to quote a (surely copyrighted) drink's company's slogan- Let the sun into your spirit.
Further info on the tracks used, and copyright/licensing difficulties is at www.2manydjs.org -
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