3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Early 80's, in all their tattered glory, July 10, 2010
This review is from: New York Noise 2 (Audio CD)
An inauspicious opening. Pulsillama just sounds like an Early - 80's New York version of the Spice Girls. If it's gonna be like this then maybe just stick w/Volume 1...OK, but let's not jump to conclusions...But then, track 2. The legendary Mofungo - just sounds like a farm - team Contortions. Not looking good...Red Transistor...better. At least some No Wave energy. Not great, but still...
Black Box Disco is just that kind of Ze Records semi - sellout track that was cool at that time. There were better (more outrageously stupid) ones. I'm eternally haunted by Spooks In Space.
Certain Generals - I remember the name - that's all. Read their Wikipedia. What a great world. I'm sure they were great live. But here, they're no Bush Tetras.
Early Sonic Youth - historically interesting. It would be much more interesting to have a live performance - they sound cowed by the studio. Still, it's the best track so far. It has atmosphere and vibe. No wonder they got the big bucks!
Rhys Chatham - Drastic Classicism. This is more like it. David Linton should be credited for his drumming on this track - it's central to the success of this piece. This is my kind of very minimal No Wave, with its basic Rock riffs and its enormous concentration.
Clandestine - not good. Ned Sublette working his cowboy voice - to no great effect. Knob twirling in the background. So what. Way too long. No "Noise" to speak of.
Glorious Strangers - Give Wharton Tiers a free pass - he was so important to the scene. Felix - historically interesting. More Arthur Russell minutiae. Endless. Del - Byzanteens. Very Contortions influenced, but with some kind of elegance. Kind of enervated and muted, but Jarmusch's organ playing is of interest.
Don King - Tanajura Thank you, Urban Dictionary: After a big ant found in Brazil, known for it's large bulbous rear end. The term is often applied to describe a person of the same physical dimensions. One of Arto Lindsay's Brazilian borrowings - not the best, not the worst.
Jill Kroesen - great horn arrangement. She was always a hard nut for me to swallow. Ut - not as wild as I remember. But the track has a certain incantatory power.
Glenn Branca - My Relationship. One of No Wave's few masterpieces. A real composition by a real (albeit very limited) composer.
And last but not least, one of the most gloriously insufferable songs of the period. Y Pants' Favorite Sweater - dig the rockin' toy piano!
SO...? Lots'a dogs - true...Historical importance - absolutely. Do you care about No Wave? Then you should own it. I doubt you'll pull it out very often, but there it is...History. Everything becomes History. Part of the comedy and tragedy of life. 30 years, baby! Gone in a flash...
I can barely justify the 4 stars, but you can't give such a labor of love any less.
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