Lamb were great. Andrew is quite the whiz (I noticed that while he mostly
setup sequenced/pre-recorded tracks he did considerable sound board/dubby
effects live). Louise's vocals were excellent if not a little weak. The
bass and trumpet/bongo men definitely added to the mix.
Gus Gus put on an interesting show with great visuals. They mostly use two
musicians hidden behind synths and massive sound monitors. The 3
"vocalists" mostly prance around and do heavily stylized acting and posing
(which at times was funny and at times annoying). The music wasn't much
really. I think I like "polyesterday" better but they are not very
original sounding. Very Techno after the first few songs and the encore
numbers were some of the blandest tracks I have ever heard. Good enough to
dance to if you want to but nothing that will shake you out of anything.
Also, I would like to add my bit on Portishead's "Cowboy". I like the
track but it is not anything different than stuff on *dummy* (which is OK
because it is a very good album). The same percussive sound with carefully
placed scratches and electronic noises. Vocals pretty much the same with
maybe a little grungier production.
Up, Bustle, and Out's *Light 'Em Up, Blow 'Em Out* is a very good CD. Lots
of great tunes with considerable sonic variety. However, people should
know that there is only 1 or 2 "new" tunes on it. I believe there are 16
tracks (I don't have it around) so it is a great compilation of their work,
but if you have bought a lot of their singles you may not want it. The
"new" CD is a compilation of their last four singles (A sides and B sides)
along with 6 tracks from their first album *The Breeze was Mellow*. The
only completely original track that I noticed is the first "Clandestine
Operation* which is a good spy theme number complete with paranoid Cheech
Marin samples. One track ("Irrestible Lure" or something) is a further
reworking of their second "Revolutionary Woman of the Windmill" 12" -- it
is my favorite.
Peace,
Jim