Customer Reviews

Spanish Dance Troupe

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

 

 

This CD has absolutely nothing to do with any current trend in rock and roll music. For the most part it sounds as though it came from some alternate universe where Canterbury rock (early Soft Machine, Caravan, Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Gong) never died out. GZM is compared to Zappa by many critics, but that comparison is inaccurate; they're straight out of Ye Olde Canterbury School of Prog Rock, only their songs are shorter. Even on the relatively straightforward "Poodle Rockin'" (which sounds something like early Roxy Music) they manage to insert a Robert Wyatt-esque dog-howl intro. You see? I have to go back twenty years just to find analogues for this band's sound. Not that they're retro; no slavish Beatles imitations a la Oasis. Tremendously melodic, sometimes with two or three melodies within a song, each one a melody that a lesser band would die for; expert musicianship that is never too showy; and insightful yet peculiar lyrics - all this goes in to making up the indescribable package that is "Spanish Dance Troupe." You really need to have this. No, REALLY.

GZM's new album wins the title for best hangover music of the year. It is a soothing, refreshing, melodic and surreal work of art. The lyrics are always silly and often sappy, but somehow Euros Childs and co. skillfully manage to pull it off. GZM are masters of weaving a perfect blend of melody and off-beat sensibility. In the age of Limp Bizkit and Britney Spears,this music is as real as it gets. I am from Central America, miles away from Wales, and yet I feel right at home listening to GZM's warm, textured, beautifully executed music. If you like Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips, Olivia Tremor Control,or Pink Floyd's Obscured by Clouds, try this out!

Wales, gentle,tranquil,full of sheep, it is to be honest a pretty dull place! So why is it that in both Super Furry Animals and Anglseys own Gorks Zygotic Mynci they have two of the most psychadelic and imaginative bands around. Spanish dance troop, Gorkys 6th album, sees them recover from their major label fiasco and return to form in a big way. All the songs here are beautifully arranged, produced and played and are sung in a way that will break your heart. A good Gorkys song should sound like an acid induced nursery rhyme, this is best illustrated in the title track spanish dance troop, Sample lyric "My conclusion this summer was there was much to much rain, so I ran of on thursday with a dance troop from spain". Whilst all the songs contain deliceously off Kilter lyrics they are often found hideing an inner turmoil or pain, but this is more a post script rather than the main theme, so the album never sounds heavy or depressed, just strums along with a country tinged backing. In spanish dance troop Gorkys Zygotic Mynci have managed to produce what they have always threatend to produced, a wonderfull album, the weirdness is kept in check (to a degree!)and you should own this album and be very greatful for its exsistence. Acid fried country and western, it could just work you know!

Okay, you can go read a "real review" at another site. I just want to tell you that this record brings a smile to my face each time I hear it. This album is earthy, quirky, fun and off-balance. I am glad I found it (thanks to a amazon.com customers list, thank you). I like weird music, but not when it is hard to listen to and enjoy as music for music's sake. This album is a pure pleasure.

I found out about this group on Pandora and was totally intrigued by the sound. Sort of a combination of early Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Captain Beefheart shaken and stirred. They make it work wonderfully. Absolutely love listening to this music. I feel genius in this sound.

I found this band somewhere online. Not sure if it was from a blog or other recommendation, but I have to say that when I first heard the name I had no idea what to expect. The songwriting on this album sounds great to me, as a musician. I think its a bit too weird for the average person to enjoy, but its not avant-garde in any way. These guys can plonk down completely solid pop songs hidden in a veil of strange instrumentation and oddball lyrics. But even these are deceptive. Take the song "Desolation Blues," which I was just in the middle of learning. The opening lines say "he's got the desolation blues/here they come again/tried to sell them even set up a stand," which I think is just hilarious. But true to the song theme, the chorus lyrics say "where does he go nobody knows/when the stars they start to shine/writing his songs held so dear/that no one wants to hear," the belies the songwriter's inner feelings of isolation and depression, just put more eloquently. If you appreciate great songwriting and rock music you should really pick this up.

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci is a Welsh band with extraordinary musical ability and a knack for coalescing fey vocals and intricate string arrangements. Few bands nowadays can pull off such eclectic records but still leave a solid impact on the listener. The cd begins with the gentle "Hallway," a beautiful piece to open any record. "Poodle Rockin'" erupts onto track 2 with bombastic chords and a very catchy refrain. Though "Poodle Rockin" doesn't offer an easy segue from track 1, it's still a fantastic rock and roll song. "She Lives On a Mountain" marks the beginning of a more steady structure for the cd, with songs like "DRWS," "Over & Out," and "Don't You Worry" following in this steady acoustic vein. Track 7, "Faraway Eyes," is a sweet, Wilco-ish country ballad that captures the Mynci's songwriting skills at their peak. "Fool" is the next track, and probably the nicest on the whole cd. Though very short, the gossamer instrumental track again displays the lovely guitar work that make Gorky's Zygotic Mynci such a great band. "Hair Like Monkey, Teeth Like Dog" might be the only low point on the cd. It's a cacophonic piece reitterating the eponymous phrase over and over again. The next four tracks continue canorously, leading up to a beautiful culmination of true aural bliss in "Christmas Eve." Although I think the cd should end on such a fine note, there is one more track, the melancholy "Humming Song." The enigmatic Welsh troubadours have done it again, combining some of the best music with gentle vocals that complement their sound like no other band around. Spanish Dance Troupe is a must for any avid music fan.

...magic to this album. A gorgeous manifestation of what it is to be young, talented, and druid. A band member's dad is Archdruid of Esteddfod. Music for mature, intelligent, twisted audiophiles.