Customer Reviews

Bambis Dilemma

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This year I have been disappointed by the new releases of my favorite bands (Arcade Fire and Blonde Redhead). Not so with Melt Banana. They have offered up something with melody, noise, punk and pure chaos. In the best Melt Banana tradition! I had wondered if they could equal Cellscape. They have equaled or perhaps bettered it. There is not a weak track on this album.

This disc is a little deceptive at times, from the almost Puffy Amiyumi poppiness of "Spider Snipe" and then an almost ambient "Type: Ecco System," but doubtably Melt-Banana this disc certainly ISN'T. Granted, it's a little weird to hear Yusuko overbdubbing herself, when it seems that the main strength of of Melt-Banana is their almost pure sound in the studio that is very much emulated in live shows, which is always amazing considering the speed and power of this crew, but it is not only Yusuko's voice that almost immediately identifies the MB, but the guitar frenetics of Agata, and the machine-gun bass of Rikka.

Don't let the scattered moments of much slower Melt-Banana let you think that they're getting a little old and toning it down. The MB still maintain a music that has its roots in cartoons and video games and a hyperactivity that leaves the glue-sniffing punk of the Ramones gabba-gabba-heying in their dust. "Plasma Gate Quest" is as much a power track as they have ever done. While nothing on this disc may meet the speed of "Warp, Back Spin" or "Spathic!", "Chain Keeper" also comes to their previous kind of land speed records.

I never thought that speed alone was the defining element of their songs, and _Bambi's Dilemma_ very much offers me proof of that concept. Melt-Banana is a band working on another plane of existence, defining their music by their own sets of rules. These rules may be a little familiar, and it is clear from meeting them that they are very much of this world (and wonderful people to boot), but their end products follow a whole new constitution. Cleaerly, this is a wiser and more experienced band--Agata has had a chance to experiment with guitar on record on his Tzadik release, and the MB is much more than a fresh-on-the-scene gang of newbies now. Maybe this album doesn't have the kind of pure insanity of _Scratch or Stitch_, which just simply blew me up against the wall and made me plenty of enemies when I insisted on spinning that disc at polite parties (well, what would YOU do if you had just come across a discovery as monumental as God's own blueprints?), but I don't expect them to just keep slapping me in the face with speed, and they satisfy that somewhat on this new release.

Anyone who tries to say that the MB have lamed out hasn't listened to this disc very carefully. Aside from the pure early MBness of "Plasma Gate Quest," there is also the classic string of sonic bursts found later here, mixed along with their electronic experimentation. This is maybe not the best disc Melt-Banana has put out, but it's a strong one, and it is clear evidence that they have staying power through their ability to explore their own sound further.

It's true that Melt-Banana's amalgamation of no wave, grindcore, punk rock and a bunch of other genres is like an aural caffeine rush, but they manage to maintain artistic substance beyond the purely physical and mosh-worthy by the density of their musical innovation. Whereas fellow Japnoise peers Boredoms are the spiritual successors to rhythm-obsessed krautrockers like Can and Neu!, Melt-Banana are more like spiritual successors to DNA: noisy, opaque, surreal, and happier with short bursts of jazzy micromanagement than any extended atmospheric jams. It's easy to see their Engrish song titles and assume the G-word ("gimmicks"), but don't be fooled, they are the real deal.

Bambi's Dilemma is an extremely rare case of a band streamlining their sound into something "poppier", but without phasing out any of the creativity or energy of their older material. The last album also had its share of unlikely hooks and pointed to a more accessible, jangly and melodic future, but there was still a certain manic paranoia to it; this is their brightest and most "fun" release yet. Also worth noting is that the album is clearly defined into an A side and a B side--A: chaotic but melodic dada punk that feels like a continuation of Cell-Scape, and B: straight up noise tracks where riffs are eschewed entirely in favor of splashes of pedal noise and electronics over drums and Yasuko's signature yapping. Side B is significantly weaker in terms of songwriting, but it has the hilarious "Dog Song", which contains enka-like singing about paws and furry ears, and a chorus of woofs.

At the end of the day, I might prefer the barbed assault of their 90s material, but I can hear how that evolved into this in a natural way.

Bambi's Dilemma is the progression from Cell-Scape that I was expecting. The album is still chock full of your expected smattering of random sound effects, frenzied drumming, and thrashing guitars... it's different, but there's no mistaking this for anything other than a Melt-Banana album. I recommend it-- I've enjoyed it just like I have any other MxBx release.

This might be the best Melt-Banana record released to date. Although definitely more accessible to the general populace than some of their previous, significantly weirder records, it doesn't mean that it is by any means boring. The straight ahead pop noise sound is complimented by much more mature composition and musicianship. The drumming is particularly notable.

Blank Page of the Blind might be my favorite song ever.

I'm not sure what it is with people who automatically cry "sellout!" the second a band shows a stylistic shift. This album is a far cry from "Scratch or Stitch" and "Speak Squeak Creak," with its much poppier songs overall, but it's still great. Anyone who automatically throws this out because it's different from old Melt-Banana stuff just obviously does not welcome experimental change.

I guess it's true what the guys from Bad Acid Trip say in "Funbus."
"The craving for new is something to shun,
thinking is bad, it spoils the fun."

I was hoping for the insane amount of frantic raw energy that was manifested in melt-banana's other albums from Bambi's Dilemma. this outing is their poppiest yet. while it's still good i feel like melt banana is going in the wrong direction. i wanna give this four stars but i think it's a little misleading. three and a half from me, and this is coming from a huge fan that has every single MB album.

This album is like 2 different and awesome cd's. The first 10 tracks are an incredible pop/punk explosion that I was hoping would follow Cellscape. This is Melt Banana that anyone can like, yet it is just tweaked out enough to not bore those bored by pop. Cracked Plaster Cast may just be my favorite MB song ever, but then Crow's Paint Brush might also be. These song have melodies the make me want to move.

After that it turns into a whole new album and goes back to old school MB. Total noise that comes as a total contrast to earlier songs. They didn't forget where they came from. They only improved the recording quality.

Anyone whose listened to Melt Banana before would know that they never dissapoint. Every one of their albums has been absolutley incredible, and every song is killer. This album is no exception. And in my opinion, the best one yet. Bambi's Dilemma has more of a rock and roll feel this time around, while still retaining those noise rock/grindcore tendencies. Yako's vocals are absolutely incredible, and Aagata(guitar) seems to be playing more actual riffs this time. All in all, if you like Melt Banana, you know what your getting. If this is your first Melt Banana cd, this is where you should start. And make sure you see them live, theres nothing like it.

First off..I've been a fan of the band for a few years now... up until now they've pretty much sounded the same..well except for the recording quality getting a bit better with each release..this record is different..its has poppier moments than the others..but don't mistake that for being a sell out..its just different..all the things I've liked about the band are still there..strange (awesome) guitar style..crazy synth fx (sometimes)...challenging rythms..a wacky vocalist..oh ha ha..and to the tool fan below..ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..i enjoy tool and all but..don't you think they are starting to sound like a cover band of themselves?...ha ha i hope melt banana made your silly ears bleed.