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MICE PARADE, "BEM-VINDA VONTADE"
NYC multi-instrumentalist Adam Pierce's Obrigado Saudadewas one of my favorite discs of last year; a most splendid mixture ofpop, jazz and Brazilian-inspired musics crafted with catchy hooks,memorable melodies and cool beats of various time signatures. What waseven more impressive was that Pierce hadn't relied on many guests topull off this recording, yet the performances are totally tight fromstart to finish.
Bubble Core Records
\With Bem-Vinda Vontade, the latest release onhis own Bubble Core Records label, Pierce has employed a full band onabout half of the disc's nine tracks, including HiM bandleader andfellow drummer, Doug Scharin. Having seen Mice Parade in liveperformance just as this disc was being released, I can totallyunderstand the appeal of inviting the live group to record on some ofthis disc; master-skilled classical and Flamenco guitars (though Piercehim is a great player), multi-faceted keyboards that more than fill inthe gap of a non-existent bass player, and Scharin's sleek andpolyrhythmic drumming. "Nights Wave" beautifully rings withnylon-stringed guitar chords and vibes over slinky beats which set thefoundation for a heartfelt vocal exchange of loss between Pierce andM�m's Kristin Anna Valtysd�ttir, who also lends her accordion chops.This one still has me hitting the repeat button. The novelly titled"The Days Before Fiction" starts from a wall of plucked guitars, keysand vibes driven by turnaround beats only to transform into traditionalTropicallia for a spell and shift back again without disturbing a hairof the groove. Distorted, upper-register guitar chugs away againstValtysd�ttir's vocals and the bombastic, yet laid-back drums on "TheBoat Room" which gradually becomes complimented with intertwiningvibraphone. One of those discs where you hear something new with eachlisten, Bem-Vida Vontade has far too many salient points todescribe in one review. One noteworthy element about this disc isPierce and company incorporating vocals on a good chunk of this disc.With these new zealous compositions, Mice Parade appears to be leaningmore towards an edgier style of the experimental pop music that cameabout in the late 1960s, but without any pressure to defy themainstream.
Bubble Core Records
\With Bem-Vinda Vontade, the latest release onhis own Bubble Core Records label, Pierce has employed a full band onabout half of the disc's nine tracks, including HiM bandleader andfellow drummer, Doug Scharin. Having seen Mice Parade in liveperformance just as this disc was being released, I can totallyunderstand the appeal of inviting the live group to record on some ofthis disc; master-skilled classical and Flamenco guitars (though Piercehim is a great player), multi-faceted keyboards that more than fill inthe gap of a non-existent bass player, and Scharin's sleek andpolyrhythmic drumming. "Nights Wave" beautifully rings withnylon-stringed guitar chords and vibes over slinky beats which set thefoundation for a heartfelt vocal exchange of loss between Pierce andM�m's Kristin Anna Valtysd�ttir, who also lends her accordion chops.This one still has me hitting the repeat button. The novelly titled"The Days Before Fiction" starts from a wall of plucked guitars, keysand vibes driven by turnaround beats only to transform into traditionalTropicallia for a spell and shift back again without disturbing a hairof the groove. Distorted, upper-register guitar chugs away againstValtysd�ttir's vocals and the bombastic, yet laid-back drums on "TheBoat Room" which gradually becomes complimented with intertwiningvibraphone. One of those discs where you hear something new with eachlisten, Bem-Vida Vontade has far too many salient points todescribe in one review. One noteworthy element about this disc isPierce and company incorporating vocals on a good chunk of this disc.With these new zealous compositions, Mice Parade appears to be leaningmore towards an edgier style of the experimental pop music that cameabout in the late 1960s, but without any pressure to defy themainstream.
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