Lights In A Fat City - Somewhere mp3 download

Unh

I’ll not beat around the Bush here, this band more that any other, have proven to me that the didgeridoo (hereafter referred to as ‘didge’) is a playable instrument, as opposed to a strange-sounding Ethnic sound source. On this album they wrench enough tonal varietv and color that it rises above 'novelty' status to become a respectable instrument. “When I Go Up (I feel Like Shouting)” is a fast moving piece of music, not unlike something by MUSLIMGAUZE, although the taped voice bends it closer to “My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts”, the ENO / BYRNE album. “Thunder” sounds quite Ethnic, keeping in time to ‘tribal’ stick-clicking while the hard 'n’ reliant drums keep the whole thing flowing along. “Valley Of The Winds” begins quietly, strangely chilling, before the dusty warmth of the ‘didge’ bursts through the eerie semi-silence, delivering to us the first real proof of this instrument as a useful soundmaker - they create ephemeral rhythms with it which form and break almost at random. Little else is used on this track, except a bare few sounds to add ice to the atmosphere until towards the end where it builds to a climax. “Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzp!” comes next, opening with ‘didge’ like swarming flies until African-sounding marimbas fade in to create the tune while startled noises echo into the gravid night. Side two opens with “Tjilpi” which sounds as if a lot went into playing it, if the gasping/snorting is anything to go by. This track has odd breaks which pause in tension as the sound fades away on reverb. “Dolphin Dreaming” comes with the sound of crashing waves superimposed by ‘space’ chimes, making a strange contrast - nature’s ambience and studio’s technology clashing to disturb you. “Vee Dee Vu” enters on a Death-March Slow-Beat, the ‘didge’ spiralling and twisting, roaring and moaning, almost singing wordlessly along with the stately rhythm. To describe it’s full vocabulary is, if not impossible, then too difficult for this review / reviewer, suffice to say, it deserves to be heard. The album closes with “Guboo”, again bursting from silence on the ‘didge’ which hides slight sounds before drums and chimes deem to join the ranks in a dignified slow track. The ‘didge’ can’t leave without getting a few more snarls and leers in as the music winds to a close. This album sits nicely amid my MUSLIMGAUZE, VASILISK, O YUKI CONJUGATE & KODO records - highlighting the didgeridoo, it still manages to blend in with these other artists. I doubt we’ll see it in our National Chart Shows, but you never know. Originally reviewed for Soft Watch.