Customer Reviews

Book M

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Well, in response to the previous critic who compared this CD unfavorably to something his hypothetical 14-yr-old cousin could do with a Casio and presumably ample free time, I guess I'd have to agree. It would have to be a hell of a Casio, though. It would also have to be composed by a 14-yr-old who was able to play the dumbek and the santur (a kind of zither-thing used in Persian traditional music); it would also have to be a 14-yr-old conversant with Can's "ethnographic forgeries," Bollywood musical scores, heavy metal, electronica, Ennio Morricone soundtracks, and music from the highly-recommended "Ethiopiques" series of Ethiopian pop music compilations (check out Track 13, "Safina"). Not your run-of-the-mill adolescent... This is one of the most satisfying CDs I've purchased in a long time and it hasn't left my CD deck since I bought it. From the stately elegance of "Knights of Damcar" to the pounding goofiness of "Horsemen of the Invisible," this is one seriously fun CD from the same bent parallel universe that spawned Mr. Bungle. If you know any musically confused adolescents, buy them this CD - you can make a difference.

After reading these reviews I can't help but wonder if everybody was listening to the same cd. I'm listening to it right now.....damn this is cool. I was expecting more of a Bungle feel, but the chaos of that band seems to be the property of Mike Patton, whereas SC3 is all about Trey. Its not even as "out there" as I thought it would be, no jump cuts or anything. Its actually pretty traditional in a way, or at least firmly rooted in middle-eastern and Indian traditions, but with metal guitar and techno beats punctuating things in a percussive way. Some of it sounds kind of like The Orb. But....its great!!!!! Somehow. Expect compositions based on traditional classical Western Asian traditions, but souped up. Thats about all I can say. But its probably my favorite CD right now.

D'ya know when bands let you down? Like, when their third or fourth album delivers a "radical, minimalist departure" from their old material, which is basically what you wanted? In Book M, the Secret Chiefs have done the opposite of that. They have given you their dole of Islamic Sufiism, surf rock and techno, but MORESO; Book M is solidly produced and more badass than ever. And so many colors in the palette: "Blaze of the Grail" pays hommage to the film scores of Bollywood and Iran; "Safina" brings in a hypnotic saxophone melody separate but not disparate from the autochthonous instruments; "Zulfiqar III" (A SC3 favorite) is a droll march into electronica; "Horsemen of the Invisible" gives you an intense Gypsy fire dance. All the song figures are traditional, which would smack of unoriginality if the songs were not so drastically re-worked or if any of us knew anything about Middle Eastern music. The underlying theme in "Hagia Sophia" ("Holy Wisdom") is masterfully, mind-numbingly recapitulated where you would least expect it. Buy, buy, buy! In any other world, this album would be priceless!

Simply, I love it! The techno. The Eastern. The beat-y-ness. All of these elements combine to make, well, noise. But great noise. And not just noise, but songs. Damn nearly clearly recognisable choruses and verses!! Which, if you are reading this, you will know is odd from any Bungle member. I heartily recommend this if you like fat techno beats, or obscure Eastern music. Or music in general really. Go and get it and smile your butt off. Cos it will be 30 bucks well spent ($15 to my US cousins).
Seriously though, it is a kick for the boring music that seems to be churned out so easily, and I think that is a kick we all need.

Ok so Trey Spruance, Danny Heifetz and Trevor Dunn are in both Mr. Bungle and Secret Chiefs 3. However don't let that fool you into thinking that the Secret Chiefs are just simply, "Mr. Bungle without Mike Patton," because it's just not so. Just because Mike Patton is in Fantomas and Tomahawk doesn't mean any of those bands will sound like Faith No More right??? Well, the same applies here.

I was never really a fan of middle eastern/arabic music, so it really surprised me that I enjoyed this album as much as I did (do). It's amazing how effortlessly these guys can combine arabic music, techno and metal guitars without missing a beat. A perfect example of what I am talking about lies within the standout song "Zulfiqar III", in which techno beats meld with arabic music and heavy metal guitar, making for a very listenable and very danceable song. Not only does this album explore arabic, techno and heavy metal genres but surf music as well. However this isn't Dick Dale surf music. If I had to describe it I would call it "apocalyptic surf", due to its often chaotic and distorted sound. So if you're looking for something new and exciting go out and pick up this album, or any of the SC3 albums for that matter. It's quite an experience.

Compared to the early days of the First Grand Constitution and Bylaws, this new album seems like it was made by a completely different band: a band committed to seriously merging Eastern and Subcontinent sounds with the American pop sensibility as opposed to making some slight references within the framework of noisecore. This is a big step for this band and this CD should be appreciated for its musical proficiency.

Ok first of all I wanted to say that the previous review to this cd shocks me coming from someone who claims to have great musical knowledge and believes that he or she could make better music on a casio at home. That is garbage and I would love to hear the music you come up with on your casio that supposedly is so much more innovative then this cd. God forbid Secret chiefs should want to make an album that is completely unique and combining elements of arabian music with techno/rock/post rock/avantegarde/jazz. This album is incredible as are all the other Secret chiefs cds. The production is excellent and unlike the other two Secret Chiefs this album is a whole different theme of music. I am angered by the fact that some guy thinks he could make better music and this is why I wrote this review to tell people to disregard that as a review and have the guts to go listen to something wild and crazy. A truly exotic masterpiece from the Mr. Bungle side band, pick it up people!

I had a pre-release of this album and thought SC3 were going to get the rotation they finally deserved. Then those fools had to blow up those buildings. Look at the release date. A middle eastern tinged band was not the most marketable thing at that time. Funny to see what happened to music post all that malarkey.

I dont get the person who gave "Book M" one star and wrote that this is a fake sound, it just doesn't make sense to me, because this album is really amazing. not in the sense of their compositions like on "Book of Horizons", this album is more raw and medieval sounding, in fact its my favorite Secret Chiefs 3 album from start to finish. their industrial, eastern infused, techno metal sound is not one to mess with. their more acoustic songs are dark and mystical, Indian-esque like they were born around there. i've been listening to classical indian and arabic music for a long time and they nail it on the head and then some. I also love Mr. Bungle, and i think Trey Spruance is quite genius. i'm never disappointed with his original music, its purely brilliant...

3 1/2 stars

Basically these guys invented their own genre with their pioneering combination of drum and bass, electric gutair, and arabic instrumentation..What should come off as gimicky instead comes through as knowing and inspired, with this rag tag group of musical infedels that also play in Mr. Bungle and other always interesting projects..A very focused effort, it shuns the usual indulgences the crew is known to take in favor of a full on musical statement..And while the band masterfully borrows musical themes and ideas from all over the map, nothing comes out sounding like something before it..