Customer Reviews

Belmondo

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

 

 

I don't want to like Japancakes or any of their albums. Seriously, I don't. But I keep find myself being drawn back to them again and again. They aren't particularly exciting to listen to--the structure of the songs is elliptical and repetitive with very minor variations; if you're looking for some ferocious instrumental improvisations (i.e. Miles, early Jarrett live), avoid Japancakes. However, the 'Cakes HAVE perfected the art of writing bittersweet, morose melodies. And then they just play the hell out of those laconic, graceful melodies over and over and over again. It's not good active "listening" instrumental music but it is good working music. Atmospheric. I often want to sit on a porch somewhere in Texas and drink beer when listening to these songs. And then, when the CD is over, I'd like to take my girlfriend into the house and help her out of that sundress....

The way I think of Japancakes is as an instrumental REM with a slight western tang. Maybe its the rhythm of Georgia underlying it all, but I have drank some beer in Texas while listening to them on a hot summer evening and, to the reviewer in NYC, it works just fine...!

Japancakes are an uber-original thing. Spacey, clangy, moody universe rock.