Customer Reviews

Stampede

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

 

 

Here's the short review:

Stampede is less like a stampede and more like like a warm electronic oatmeal bath. The music is fine for background at the edgy cafe, but I kept waiting for Skerik or somebody to start ripping.

If you like Amoeba, you may like Stampede.

If you, as I do, prefer Host and Guest, skip it. There is no Mullet Cut, Critter's Theme, Brozo the Clown, or Communist Frankenstein Government Headset Earphone Radio Monster material on Stampede.

. . . improv, electronica, world, funk, lounge to name a few. And doing a dang good job of it.

I'm pretty much blown away by this disc. Mylab, Tucker Martine/Eyvind Kang (who, not surprisingly, mixes string arrangements on three cuts), Miles Gurtu, Nathan Michel, and Garage a Trois--not to mention Fantomas (esp. Delirium Cordia, without the darkness)--come to mind as possible analogs, but these guys have pretty much staked out their own unique territory. One that gets my juices flowing. Big time.

For one thing, there's a great balance between live sounds and post-production effects. Very cool. One almost gets the feeling that this stuff could be played in concert and come across just about as effectively as on this studio disc, despite the amount of processing and fooling around, which, although it definitely enhances things, doesn't overwhelm.

A lot of that's due to the level of true improv, song writing ability, group conversation, and instrumental mastery these guys have risen to since their debut a decade or so ago. From their humble beginnings as just another jazz thrash band, these fellows have become true innovators. Moreover, they've developed a huge cultural reach embracing everything from surf to bossa thrash without blinking an eye.

A disc of immense pleasure and possibility. One of my favorites so far this year.

This is by far the most listenable album from Critters, but also probably their best.
The band takes on a huge spectrum of sounds making the album an eclectic electronic-acid-rock-funk-jazz whirlwind. Some songs are soft, even emotional, while others have that strong Critters sax+percussion+base. Then there's the last track - all it's missing is George Harrison with a sitar.