Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An album that makes me glad I'm not deaf., 18 May 2005
Live, its an awesome package, and on record it's the same story. They really have done it again, and this time they didn't need Hendrix. It's another triumph for London-based gurus Acoustic Ladyland. Their eagerly awaited follow-up to Camouflage sees them move in a new, but not unwelcome, direction. Where Camouflage's acoustic approach feels like contemporary jazz (the ludicrously gifted Pete Wareham sounding positively Coltranesque at times), this latest release has its feet firmly in rock heritage; Tom Herbert plays electric bass throughout, churning out riffs with venom and conviction, and Seb Rochford (hair today, hair tomorrow) thunders around the kit with his usual, and baffling, combination of vitriol and grace. But it is Wareham who steals the show, his sax playing at times mimicing everything from shrieking electric guitars to shrieking punk vocals. He even sings on 'Perfect Bitch'. Ideal.Its a truly wonderful racket these virtuosos make. The production is absolutely amazing; they've managed to create a breathtaking depth of sound that Queens of the Stoneage would be proud of. And the tunes aren't half bad, to boot. Whether it be the righteous soulful bellowing of 'Ludwig Van Ramone', or the infectious bass hook from 'Deckchair', their simplicity and directness mean they begged to be hummed repeatedly all day long. Even thrash attack 'Thing' manages to be tuneful. Perhaps not one for the jazz purists, but whether this is jazz is a long and silly debate that I'm sure won't keep the band awake at night. 'Iggy' is pure punk, and some of the ska-tinged drumming also throws us off the jazz scent. Its simply big, loud and intriguingly scary, which only makes the balladic opening to 'Of You' (written by Wareham and his wife) all the more beautiful. Who cares what it is, its the nicest thing you can possibly do for your ears (although they probably won't like you for it).
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An aural riot of delight, 19 Jun 2005
By A Customer
Given this album as a birthday gift with the words 'its sax led jazz, but a bit punky'. This gets nowhere near the truth! Yes there is punk, yes there is jazz but the influences, both musical and non, go so much further than that. Listening to this is like going on a journey that speeds up, slows down, gathers momentum again and all the time everything seems fresh and new. A wonderful, wonderful album which deserves to be widely heard and then it will be widely enjoyed. Spread the word!
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Punk Meets Jazz and Gets Fruity, 11 Sep 2005
From the opening bars of the first track, Iggy, the energy of the music is fabulous. Even when the pace slows for a quieter, keyboard driven track like Trial and Error, it is a lively experience.
Peter Wareham blows his horn with total confidence and an ability to jam that is a revelation. The remainder of the group contribute with equal talent to the demented and bounding sound.
This is an album to play in a fast car, foot down, heading for the horizon.
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