Author: Captain Capm (Page 2 of 118)

Schleusolz: Running Out of Time

June 5, 2009 / Captain Capm

Back some years ago, the members of Devo thought it would be interesting to re-record a collection of their favorites in easy listening styles and release the whole damn thing as the E-Z Listening Disc. The sound they conjured on that release is the closest thing I can compare this album by Schleusolz to. It’s cheesy as hell, and the Casio-like quality of the drums on some of the tracks will have you loving or hating it, perhaps both at the same time. But what you have here is 16 tracks of instrumental goofiness that defies explanation – and perhaps even good taste. Yet it’s all fun. “Make My Heart Go Boom” rocks in ways it absolutely shouldn’t. “Detroit Teenage Riot” sounds like some leftover early ’80s synth nightmare. “Neo-Liberal Coffee Bar” could almost make Kraftwerk blush. That’s actually fitting, since these guys hail from the same country. Whatever this stuff is, it’s definitely worth hearing. Yes, it may induce a headache, but then where would we be without such classic, mind-bending albums as Trout Mask Replica? In a far worse place, my friends. Weirdly brilliant. (self-released)

Schleusolz MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, Electronica, Pop

electronic German lounge Schleusolz

Brett Terry: Instant History

May 19, 2009 / Captain Capm

Brett Terry probably means well, but there’s so much going against him on this album that he almost needn’t have bothered. The production is dangerously thin and Terry’s voice isn’t one that’s going to incite excitement in anyone’s mind in the long run. The man’s no Bob Dylan, unfortunately for him. But away he goes nevertheless crooning away on such ditties as “Unharmed” and limping through embarrassments like “Rock Star” that strive to be something (lyrically, anyway) along the lines of the Who’s “Success Story,” but fails in a terrible fashion. You just can’t believe Terry when he sings this stuff because he’s absolutely unconvincing as both a singer and a songwriter. Unfortunately, he even feels the need to attempt the Beatles classic “If I Needed Someone” by multi-tracking his vocals against his bare acoustic guitar. He completely kills it, like other people have done when covering the Fab Four. One of these days there will be a law against committing such a musical crime. Not that Terry hasn’t done enough damage here with his own tunes. Pass. (Leverkuhn Records)

Brett Terry MySpace page

Americana, CD Reviews, Pop

acoustic Brett Terry CD Quick Takes Instant HIstory CD review Pop

True Nature: Feels Like Centuries

May 18, 2009 / Captain Capm

True Nature, fronted by Lou Barlow (not to be confused with the man of the same name in Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, et al) and featuring other talented musicians such as Aaron Comess, Gerry Leonard, and Tony Levin have come together to release this, the group’s second CD. At five tracks, this EP packs more punch than many full-length albums released these days with “The Color of Day Light” easily being the disc’s standout track. Barlow weaves strong melodies with smart lyricism, allowing a song like “My Freedom Lies Behind the Sun” to resonate passionately in today’s era of political change and societal shifting without falling over on its own message. “Woman” and “Truth I Have To Steel (Simple Heart)” also mark Barlow as a gifted lyricist and musician. With tunes this solid, it’s not hard to imagine True Nature being able to conquer an entire album’s worth of songs and sounds. Here’s looking forward to that moment. (Fire Sign Records)

True Nature MySpace page

CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

CD Quick Takes Lou Barlow Pop Rock

La Forza: Dance Music for Your Mind Vol. 1

May 15, 2009 / Captain Capm

Back in the first half of the ‘90s, “dance music for your mind” was basically anything bouncing around the ambient and trance genres. To some extent, those charlatans known as Enigma would have also fit in there somewhere. In the case of La Forza (a.k.a. Divina Klein and Doug Mackar), though, the title translates into something more succinct as “cheesy desktop PC-created electronica.” Face it: if there’s one genre that is a completely hit-or-miss affair, it’s electronica. It might be because it’s so damned easy to create these days, or it may just simply be because there are no real “rules” to follow when making it. Whatever the case, this album is simply a snooze from start to finish. With titles like “Vision Quest,” “Approaching Levitation,” “The Sound of Clouds” and “To Connect to Eternity,” you can pretty much figure out what this is going to sound like before you even press play. Lots of listless, tranquil droning sound montages that never go anywhere “intended to support contemplation, incite imagination, and increase neuro-plasticity.” Sure, whatever you say. It’s probably safe to say that your imagination will be better sparked simply by opening your nearest window. And if you’re really concerned about your “neuro-plasticity,” you might want to crawl right out that window and get outside some more. Let’s hope there’s not a second volume in the works. (self-released)

La Forza MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Electronica

Ambient CD Quick Takes La Forza techno trance

Jana Mashonee: New Moon Born

May 14, 2009 / Captain Capm

NAMMY Award winning and Grammy-nominated artist Jana Mashonee will surely be hitting some new career peaks with her latest release New Moon Born. The Native American artist has taken a new direction with this disc, aiming for a more contemporary pop style. A gifted singer, Mashonee hits her mark numerous times on this excellent disc. The opening “Osiris’ Star” is equally hypnotic, tribal, and dance-worthy. But then there’s something like “Faded Love” which strikes a deeply soulful and smooth groove that’s every bit as tantalizing. “Solid Ground” is near-angelic, and “Take Me Back” showcases what makes Mashonee so attractive: a silky voice, nary a note misplaced with a full range and a delivery that is kept in check where if these songs were given to other artists you can easily imagine them getting bombastic. Jana Mashonee is definitely a gifted artist and this new album should find her a whole new set of fans. If you enjoy well-crafted pop music with spectacular vocals, than this one’s for you. (Miss Molly Records)

Jana Mashonee MySpace page