Eclectic Vibes - January 2009
CD/DVD Micro Reviews by Andrew Frey
HEATED UP BY HEATBOX
Dec 3 at the Cardinal Bar on a Snowy Wednesday
If I counted correctly, 16 disco balls decorate the dance floor in the Cardinal Bar. However, that was not the point of note this evening.
Amidst the amazing white trees bedecked with red lights and red balls which flanked both sides of the small stage was a lone performer, plying his trade.
Heatbox is a vocal side show anomaly. He creates his songs each night by sampling and resampling his voice and then playing the triggering footbar like an organist. Raps n rhythms, melodies and more were displayed on this evening of wonder as the artist routinely performed vocal stunts for all to witness and regale in.
Later in the set some folks that looked an awful lot like Harmony Park regulars (where Heatbox often plays) brought with them an LED Hula Hoop to sparkle up the evening. And sparkle it did when reflected in all those disco balls like some kind of fractured psychedelic dream. We did however enjoy the dream to the fullest before we went into the white night.
Almah
Fragile EqualityRecord Label: Blistering Records
Review published: January 2009
Rating: 8
Well flavored and maturely tempered power metal featuring former Angra members. Robust guitar solos are intertwined with pulsating rhythms and urgent vocals justifying the quality and caliber of this melodic power metal fury.
Reader Votes: 0
Cribshitter
Cry A Little RainbowRecord Label: Medicated G Records
Review published: January 2009
Rating: 9
Wow! 30 tracks of hilarious musical debauchery and mayhem. Madison brews them eclectic and this is right up there. Careening from poppy punk to country then retro electronica plus various other tangents du jour, all with a squinter of a rainbow in their eyes…
Reader Votes: 1
James Eisele
Coming Into A New AgeRecord Label: Self Released
Review published: January 2009
Rating: 7
Sly, cool, and swinging jazz temptations are blown about by the blues guitar backbone this artist is known for. At some points I think I am listening to some forgotten Burl Ives record or something.
Reader Votes: 0
Faces Of March
ConfessionsRecord Label: Kurfew Records
Review published: January 2009
Rating: 8
Even though this female fronted gothic tinged power metal outfit sways a bit heavy on the commercial side for me, they throw down some catchy tunes, decent ballads and a tight vision of their future. Onward!
Reader Votes: 0
La Otra Banda
Cuatro TunesRecord Label: Sanjonero records
Review published: January 2009
Rating: 7
A trio of musicians originally from Venezuela, now slowly transplanting to Madison, bring us a teaser of their world beat amalgamation of South American melodies purposely infected with global influences.
Reader Votes: 1
The New Monarchs
BlueprintsRecord Label: Soup Bowl Records
Review published: January 2009
Rating: 7
This Minneapolis duo generally generates dreamy electronic drone-scapes with nice genre flairs blistering into eruptions of trance, industrial, ambient and dance. Perfect for late night drives to nowhere.
Reader Votes: 0
Pelican
City of EchoesRecord Label: Hydra Head
Review published: January 2009
Rating: 8
Chicago born, hard hitting massive expansive rhythm-scapes filled with anxious doom and a crusty chagrin. Not all is lost though, as the musical twists and turns afford some blissful vistas via dynamic plateaus and sonic soliloquies.
Reader Votes: 0
Laura Reed & Deep Pocket
Live At Tree Sound StudiosRecord Label: Treeleaf Music
Review published: January 2009
Rating: 8
Recorded live for Pandora’s Music Genome Project, this soulful high energy crew, lead by energetic South African born female vocalist, blasts their way through a saucy selection of material, displaying their song talents plus banter and anecdotes to round out the experience.
Reader Votes: 0
Siebenburgen
Revelation VIRecord Label: Blistering Records
Review published: January 2009
Rating: 6
Impending gothic doom gives way as a firestorm of melodic black metal is unleashed upon the listener. The vocals are more growled and gritty than screamed and there are nice female vocal flourishes. Even though it is well done, evokes sinister ambience, etc. black metal has become kinda stale at this point.
Reader Votes: 0
The Televangelist And The Architect
There’s A Song In There SomewhereRecord Label: Undetected Plagiarism
Review published: January 2009
Rating: 6
Rampant with artistic flair, these slightly droll folk rockers force out a slurry of simple yet downtrodden melodies and meandering story lines for us to follow.
Reader Votes: 0
Various Artists
Made In IcelandRecord Label: Iceland Music Exporrt
Review published: January 2009
Rating: 7
Perhaps the chill weather of January makes you think of Iceland. If so, this compilation showcases 15 rising Icelandic stars. Quirky indie overtones pervade, but a nice overview of offerings for sure.
Reader Votes: 0
