Sneer's Emporium of Sound (lyric, blues, bass, psychedelic, punk)

Sneer · 12-01-2009, 11:05 AM

Dr John

Gris Gris

I stumbled upon this album purely by accident, i was blog searching for a folk band called Gris Gris and this came up instead. Enticed enough to download it, i was immediately swept up in the mystical, ritualistic sounds creeping into my ears.

I say ritualistic because it sounds like the soundtrack to some esoteric voodoo ceremony, replete with eerie, ethereal melodies carried upon flutes, mandolins, saxophones and strange chanting. Listening to this is maybe the closest i can get to an out of body experience whilst conscious.

Musically it is a hybrid of rhythm & blues and psychedelia, punctuated frequently with various world music influences ranging from balkan to flamenco. It all has this smokey, demure mystique to it - seedy in a sense without sacrificing any of the beauty.

The variation between songs is also impressive. Danse Kalinda Ba Doom for example sounds like it's come straight from a rambunctious night of hedonism in a gypsy commune, whilst converssely Jump Sturdy clearly owes a lot to the black slaves of American past as it swaggers with blues and soul. Despite this variation, the album succeeds in flowing into this phantasmagoria of sound, consequently becoming 30 odd minutes of some of the most interesting, refreshingly strange music i've ever heard.

Sneer · 12-02-2009, 08:16 PM

The Chameleons

Strange Times

The Chameleons were a post-punk outfit from Manchester, initially active between 181 and 1987. They are in my view painfully underrated exponents of the gothic brand of Post-Punk prevalent in the British alternative scene throughout the decade, with Strange Times being one of the finest releases of the period.

Released in 1986, this was the signalling of an end for the band in its original carnation, a collection of experiences from over the years compressed into 50-odd minutes of brooding, atmospheric dream pop. There is a mournful, nostalgic tone underpining the dual-guitar textures and pentrative drum beats as the band embark on a sonic journey of reminiscence and introspection. The guitars meander along with an errie resonance, echoing through dark passages of isolation and regret, mercilessly propelled by a dynamic rhythm section that blasts through the speakers.

This should have been the Chameleons breakthrough into a higher, more revered spectrum of public consciousness. The production and songs were grander and more sophisticated than anything they had previously released. Swamp Thing in particular is a masterful example of how to build tension to breaking point. It's this tension that runs central throughout the album that you feel finally tore the band apart.

With themes of alienation, emptiness and isolation running concurrent with the melancholic, ominous tones central to the albums sound, it wont be a particularly uplifting, joyous listen. But then to be honest i wouldnt have it any other way, so have a listen and bask in your woes, they've rarely sounded this good.

Stephen · 08-16-2012, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sneer

Dr John

Gris Gris

I stumbled upon this album purely by accident, i was blog searching for a folk band called Gris Gris and this came up instead. Enticed enough to download it, i was immediately swept up in the mystical, ritualistic sounds creeping into my ears.

That's funny because I just went the other way. I was looking for this album and came across The Gris Gris self titled album. Enticed enough to download it, I was immediately swept up in...

Well, you get the picture

12-01-2009, 11:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	Dr John Gris Gris I stumbled upon this album purely by accident, i was blog searching for a folk band called Gris Gris and this came up instead. Enticed enough to download it, i was immediately swept up in the mystical, ritualistic sounds creeping into my ears. I say ritualistic because it sounds like the soundtrack to some esoteric voodoo ceremony, replete with eerie, ethereal melodies carried upon flutes, mandolins, saxophones and strange chanting. Listening to this is maybe the closest i can get to an out of body experience whilst conscious. Musically it is a hybrid of rhythm & blues and psychedelia, punctuated frequently with various world music influences ranging from balkan to flamenco. It all has this smokey, demure mystique to it - seedy in a sense without sacrificing any of the beauty. The variation between songs is also impressive. Danse Kalinda Ba Doom for example sounds like it's come straight from a rambunctious night of hedonism in a gypsy commune, whilst converssely Jump Sturdy clearly owes a lot to the black slaves of American past as it swaggers with blues and soul. Despite this variation, the album succeeds in flowing into this phantasmagoria of sound, consequently becoming 30 odd minutes of some of the most interesting, refreshingly strange music i've ever heard. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show Last edited by Sneer; 12-02-2009 at 07:53 PM.

12-02-2009, 08:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	The Chameleons Strange Times The Chameleons were a post-punk outfit from Manchester, initially active between 181 and 1987. They are in my view painfully underrated exponents of the gothic brand of Post-Punk prevalent in the British alternative scene throughout the decade, with Strange Times being one of the finest releases of the period. Released in 1986, this was the signalling of an end for the band in its original carnation, a collection of experiences from over the years compressed into 50-odd minutes of brooding, atmospheric dream pop. There is a mournful, nostalgic tone underpining the dual-guitar textures and pentrative drum beats as the band embark on a sonic journey of reminiscence and introspection. The guitars meander along with an errie resonance, echoing through dark passages of isolation and regret, mercilessly propelled by a dynamic rhythm section that blasts through the speakers. This should have been the Chameleons breakthrough into a higher, more revered spectrum of public consciousness. The production and songs were grander and more sophisticated than anything they had previously released. Swamp Thing in particular is a masterful example of how to build tension to breaking point. It's this tension that runs central throughout the album that you feel finally tore the band apart. With themes of alienation, emptiness and isolation running concurrent with the melancholic, ominous tones central to the albums sound, it wont be a particularly uplifting, joyous listen. But then to be honest i wouldnt have it any other way, so have a listen and bask in your woes, they've rarely sounded this good. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show Last edited by Sneer; 12-02-2009 at 09:34 PM.