Customer Reviews

Be Gentle With the Warm Turtle

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

 

 

Yes, Kinski are often labelled 'space' rock, but actually their influences reach somewhat beyond just the krautrock (Can, Neu, etc.) and psychedelia (Acid Mothers Temple, Hawkwind, etc.) influences. Yes, those sounds are clearly present here, but you also hear traces of shoegazer (Ride, My Bloody Valentine, etc.) and American indie/noise rock (Yo La Tengo and Sonic Youth). What make Kinski stand out (for me at least), is that they take these influences to a new level. Forget Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, and all those other 'genre' bands (I find Oneida and Comets on Fire are the only worthwhile contemporary comparisons).

Kinski's song structure, dynamics, delivery, and sheer volume of sound are stunning. I actually first heard them live at Bumbershoot 2003 in Seattle, Let me say that I have seen many, many bands live (in the hundreds), and no one has blown me away like Kinski did that day. Absolutely blisteringly loud, kick-ass noise rock, with a perfectly structured set. Immediately, I went out and bought 'Airs Above Your Station', their new album at the time. Slightly worried it might not live up to their live show, I was very pleasantly surprised. Yes, it has some mellow moments, but nonetheless the album is amazing.

Then I sought out this album (which I am still unclear as to whether it is technically their first or second album??). For me, it's not quite as expansive as 'Airs', but the set of rock tunes are otherwise equally great. From the Sonic Youth-inspired 'Daydream Intonation' to the Yo La Tengo-sounding 'New India', their influences at the time were clear, but they do them justice by taking the music to a new level.

Even though this is essentially an instrumental album (with the exception of 'Newport', with some singing by Chris Martin-an amazing song by the way), fans of indie rock in general should absolutely check these guys out. If possible, every effort made to see them live is worth it. They will blow you away (if you own earplugs, you'd be wise to use them).

I own both this album and their previous album (Spacelaunch For Frenchie), and I have to say that they are a welcome addition to today's music scene. It's good to see that Kinski, along with a few other Pacific Northwest bands, are turning away from the anger, the folk-rock, the glitz and glam, the hey-look-at-me-I'm-a-rocker thing and whatever else has recently been saturating the music scenes. I'm not putting any of that stuff down, well, maybe some of it, but I'm just saying that it's great to hear some intense, psychedelic/atmospheric music for a change. You don't have to sit there and listen to the songs and wonder what they're about, just sit there and allow them to set a mood. It's a primarily instumental album, and if you've ever seen a Kinski show in person, they follow the same formula. Guitarist/vocalist Chris Martin, when he actually decides to sing, uses his voice as an additional instrument and allows the words to wash in and blend with the overall sound. Production-wise, the vocals are mixed low enough that they never really jump out at the listener, and are almost subliminal. Performance-wise, the album starts out very moody, buildings up to a rocking crescendo ("Newport"), and then gradually decends back into the mood, and ends with "Montgomery," a song that lulls the listener into a peaceful state. The band members play well with each other, and no one person stands out above the rest. It's music made for the sake of making music. Overall this album is a great companion to Kinski's live shows, so if you get the chance, catch them while they're in your town.

Why isn't Kinski more popular? Maybe the name's to blame: do people think it's a solo album by Nasstasja or a reissue of Klaus? This second album, and their first cohesive one made as such, rocks and rests. It occupies confidently a middle ground between Sonic Youth or Mogwai's now-familiar volume ups and downs and the dronier side of lesser known bands like Subarachnoid Space or Surface of Eceon. This sort of alteration in loud/soft goes way back before Nirvana perhaps to Slint's "Spiderland". It moves more fluidly than much of the overly math-rock/post-rock, and knows when it's time's up and the next song needs to take the spotlight.

What Kinski adds is its ability to conduct the various styles without seeming like dilettantes or incompetents. They love their influences, but they mix them for a richer blend: space explorations, meditative minimalism, and propulsive rockers ensure that each song stands on its own well. These three phases of the album each appear, entertain, and then bow out gracefully as the next cut takes center stage. Once in a while they overlap. This ability to play off these different incarnations of the band only improves on later albums such as "Airs Above Your Station" and "Alpine Static." And, they do have intriguing album titles--adding a curious cover pic here!

With no vocals to interfere, this mood music in its variety keeps you involved even in the very slow opening parts as well as the energy of "Newport" (as in Terrascope?) and "Daydream Intonation"--nice nod to Sonic Youth's title there. It's an album that has a great range of emotions and is accessible and engrossing without being superficial or trendy. While some have considered this too low-key, I like that it does not get too bogged down in any one of the three phases I've classified.

Looks to be this band's second CD. Personally, I liked 'Airs Above Your Station' and 'Alpine Static' better (see my reviews of both). Tracks here that show the most promise are "Spacelaunch For Frenchie", the trippy "New India" and maybe "One Ear In The Sun". Because of those three cuts alone, I plan to hang onto my copy of 'Be Warm'. Overall, it's so-so indie space rock. Old school Kinski fans may obviously get more out of this disc than I did. Enjoy.

This band rocks, not in the rocking way you would think, but more subtle, kind of creeps up on you and BAM! you are swept away in a fine wash of huge guitars, prupolsive drumming and delicate meanderings. One of the tracks sounds like something off of daydream nation era sonic youth, my favorite sonic youth album I must say. Kinski mix gentle psychedelia with intense guitar thrusts creating a beautiful spacerock masterpiece. Any fan of MBV, Swervedriver, sonic youth, mogwai, etc, etc...should love this album. Seriously really good and well done!

Wasn't sure what to expect of this album -- I had heard recommendations but with an album name like this I was ready for anything. I was, to say the least, very pleasantly surprised. All the tracks are very interesting and very different, though in my opinion New India, Newport, and that poe kid is weird are the standouts. In songs like newport you know where it is going and you rock out, and yet it still suprises you and you have to rock out even harder just to keep up. Then there are creepers like New India and, ehhh, the 4th track, where you are not sure where it is going, but you have to rock out anyway because it is thrashing you so hard with the waves of guitars. And its not just noise either...there are great melodies swirling around too, and on quieter tracks like the opener and closer, there is a very nice warm, intimate feeling. When i listen to it, I close my eyes and kind of picture myself in some kind of movie...newport is a chase scene, new india is the big climax...etc etc. You should try it.
Highly recommended.

3 1/2

Underappreciated band entry into this sub-genre does not break any new ground in the generally circular patterns listeners would expect, instead mixing the stretched out tendencies of Mogwai, distorted overload of Flying Saucer Attack, and melodic sensibilities of old Queens of the Stone Age and Smashing Pumpkins to solid effect. Whenever anything becomes too bogged down in it's own repetition Kinski knows just the trick to keep listeners involved, often capitalizing on the modest outing with spectacularly unassuming bursts of instrumental thrust made to specifically guide any given melody that sometimes remains just short of uninteresting. The total effect is one of dedicated overview, not nearly as immersed as many of post rock's most engaging masterpieces, but a far cry from third rate bands that sometimes infest this style.

I like Kinski's rockin' songs, but this CD is half rock and half SUPER BORING ambient guitar noodlings.