Galactic: "Late For The Future." Oh yeah, one of my favorite bands is back with a new set of 13 tunes. Their last one, CrazyHorse Mongoose, was released back in 1998 with classic funk lover Dan Prothero on production. This one is produced by Nicholas Sansano, (Sonic Youth) so, yes, the guitar player gets aLOT more.
Many grooveheadz feel CrazyHorse Mongoose gets better with age, now rating as one of the best things from New Orleans since before Harry met Sally and the Meters hit the Queen Mary. But, this is a much different direction for the band. The main elements are still there, only now, guitarist Raines is the star, which might dismay Stanton Moore fans (like me!)
Sonically, this is one GREAT way to test out studio monitors (or hi-fi/p.a. speakers) as tracks like "Century City" crunk a cone punishing low end, while x-treme jamz like "Jeffe 2000" shred wax faster than ear drops. Theryl is also in effect, offering up those quirky lyrics with a voice that sounds like the bottom of a 4-in-the morning pot of coffee at Delores' on Santa Monica Blvd. This one deserves repeated listenings.
Nils Petter Molvaer. "Khmer." Ahh, ECM. Before the concept was bastzardized, commercialized, and sanitized by Windham Hill Records ("CD's, Cassettes, no COD's or checks" ... hey, it's the American way) this was where the thinking person went to unwind. Your Keith Jarrett / Jan Garbarek, both together and solo, your early, SWEET, Pat Metheny, and later your Arvo Part, your Hilliard Ensemble, (your mind-blowing recording of 12th century organum composer Perotin... talk about loop-based music), yeah, ECM has always been about a SOUND.
So, a groove based release on ECM? They've been around for a while, but recent list discussion encouraged me to pick it up. The result? Well, if Ingmaar Bergmann ever directed a porn movie, this'd be the score. Introspective and icy yet moody, vintage ECM, oh yeah..... with a sampler.
It comes with the remix CD, including jointz from the Herbalizer and Rockers Hi-Fi. Even the endorsement of the almost infallible T-Bird failed to put this over for me either. I like a little more SOUL... (although I bet Tbird can work it into a mix pretty good in his bad-ass way....)
DROPPING LIKE A STONE.... in my estimation is Amel Larrieux's "Infinite Possibilities" and the Jazzyfatnastees "The Once and Future." Rising from the ashes is Macy Gray's "On How Life Is." Recent appearences/coronations leave even old friends thinking she is starting to look 2 wierd! But, get past the hating, y'all, it's the best thing to hit (and stay) in the top 10 in a long while, and any one of the first 4 trax will fill a midwestern dance floor faster than a free bottle of Miller high life. Give the people what you told 'em they wanted!
By the way, there was a great female soul track on Gilles P.'s Worldwide a few weeks back. A white label with a hook that goes "I hate you.... and your baby's momma too." SWEET. Let's get more from this diva/production team. Anyone else catch that?
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