DJ Spooky is no stranger to experimentalism or pushing the boundaries
of genre. Drums of Death creates a successful fusion of diverse
styles, a risky proposition which lives up to his ambition to create a
“rhythm dialog, building bridges between styles.”
New York-based 33Hz quartet openly embraces the years, somewhere between 1979 and 1982, when disco shed its cheese and began its transformation into a full-bodied, danceable pop.
Considering their (our) Athens, Georgia roots I
With Lost and Safe, Paul de Jong and Nick Zammuto of The Books turn in another loopy-dreamy collection of melodic narratives made up of snippets of found noises, spoken-word samples and acoustic instrumentation that carries on the
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: yes, the half-Italian, half-icelandic Emiliana Torrini sounds like Bjork. Just without the squeaking. Or high pitched sounds there for the benefit of dogs and – yes! – music critics. But hold on a minute, there surely can be room for both singers in this ever crowded world where, like London buses, you wait ages for one and then, well, two come along jostling for passengers? And if that doesn’t mix your metaphors, then who knows what will?
X&Y is by no means perfect. The specter of U2 looms large throughout and Martin’s turn of phrase isn’t quite what it once was.
Thankfully, the improvisation plays second fiddle to the melodies and arrangements on Deep Forbidden Lake, which allows this incarnation of the Jazz Mandolin to shine in a new, yet familiar setting.
this may well be the Zeppelin III of indie/CMJ-rock.
