|
|
|
BANDS: Punk
& Ska INTERESTS: Venues ETC... About LOTD
|
Girlz of
Zaetar: Fear of Rehearsal EP
Girlz of Zaetars Fear of Rehearsal is experimental, avant-garde, electronic, ambient, jazz very reminiscent of Miles Davis revolutionary 1970s creative leap to electric instruments on such albums as Bitches Brew music that defined what came to be called fusion. The centerpiece of this twenty-three piece collectives album is the first track, Gods, a 35-minute, meandering sonic landscape that uses as its artistic palette tenor saxophone, electronic noise, guitar, percussion, bass, and non-distinct human voices that at times sing, talk, and scream. Although the approach to mood and musical structure on Fear of Rehearsal resembles Davis work, the overall result is not nearly as transcendent or groundbreaking. Whereas Davis always kept his music interesting by finding bits of great melodies, incorporating awesome build-ups of tension, and maintaining phenomenal musicianship amongst the chaos, GoZs layered noise ultimately proves too free for its own good. Although avant-garde music is not supposed to take the listener down a traditional melodic musical path with a clear beginning, a logical progression, and a clear end, Fear of Rehearsal still proves too meandering for the listener to make any real connection to its heart. Over the course of these first 35 minutes, the patterns of free noise appear too repetitious and fruitless despite the artists admirable artistic intent. The saxophone solos are very well played, with great fast-paced runs and layers of sax noise provided by the multi-player horn section. This instrument is especially well utilized in the second track, Lahasa, with a great squeaky, squonky sax riff that repeats over disjointed percussion and ambient noise before the rhythm section begins to kick a groove. However, the sound on the entire disc is mixed so that the lead instrument is never clearly in the foreground it is always somewhat distorted or muffled or hidden, whether it is the sax, guitar, or the odd singing/wailing/talking that permeates much of the disc. The highlight of the entire outing is Full Moon, a slow, hypnotic meditation with great groovy percussion and bass. Although the avant-garde vibe of the rest of the disc is the more artistically sexy endeavor for such musicians as these, this track shows that using such experimentation in pursuit of or in conjunction with melody and an ass-shaking rhythm ultimately makes for a better overall result.
This album can be purchased at CD Baby Girlz of Zaetar Official Website About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
