Customer Reviews

Super Roots, Vol. 9

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

 

 

When I first heard "Super Roots 9", I almost didn't believe it was actually The Boredoms. I've checked out a number of their earlier albums, which seem to be more along the lines of "noise rock" or some sort of demented Japanese punk, but apparently their sound has changed in recent years.

The evolution of this album is worth noting. Yamantaka Eye began by experimenting with pitch-shifting some of minimalist composer Jon Gibson's work, creating what was basically a new composition built on Gibson's pipe organ drones. From there, the music was transcribed by a person the Boredom's refer to as "a mysterious superfan" and then arranged for a 24-piece choir. The whole thing together in a massive, celebratory performance on Christmas Eve 2004.

The work is remarkable in that it's one of the only Boredom's projects that doesn't involve healthy amounts of improvisation. The music is laid out in detail on a 40-page score, thus tethering the drummers into cyclical, repetitive grooves. This actually ends up being great because the repetition along with the choir lends itself to a blissful trance state.

The single track on "Super Roots 9" is one, big 40-minute joyride through beautiful choral sounds and the thundering roar of three drummers. It's sometimes difficult to determine what Eye's roll was, other than coming up with the idea on his turntables. There are times when I suspect that he may be doing some live manipulation on the vocals or something, but it's difficult to tell.

While not a representative Boredom's album (if such a thing even exists), it's a definite must for fans of the group. I'd also recommend it to a more general audience of experimental music fans. It's an unusual work, but its joyful nature is completely infectious. Highly recommended.

The Boredoms can be inspiring dramatic sound engineers (Vision Creation NewSun) as well as raunchy, sub-punk, almost Butthole Surfers-ish noise mavens (Chocolate Synthesizer: which sometimes sounds like cartoon characters beating the snot out of each other).

Here they are teamed with an amazing choir that keeps pace with the frantic triple drum kit rhythms, which swirl, twirl, and whirl maelstrom-like around the sea of held choral notes until reaching further and further crescendos.

Considering this is a live performance the sound is superb.
It is a mind-blowingly tight performance with the start-stops right on schedule.
This is a single track - as you see it listed here - and you can't get a good feel for it, because the first 2 minutes are just the choir.

This is similar to wonderful Sea Drum, but lacking the piano parts.

I don't love everything the Boredoms have done, but I do love the Boredoms, and this CD is a very pleasant surprise. And a fine addition to the Super Roots catalogue.

This is one of the best live albums I've ever heard. If you've seen Boredoms/Vooredoms live in the past 5 years, this is very much like it (if not the same musical piece.) The choir fits in so well with this music... it feels like a deep penetration into untapped creative potentials of the human brain. Surging, frenetic, intelligent energy music. It seems they are concentrating more on live stuff lately (not much recent studio material, the 77 drums thing, the 88 drums thing). They seem to be working on making incredible experiences out of live performances. And having seen them live I can tell you they are the best live band i've ever seen. Super Roots 9 captures that energy as best as a recording can. I highly suggest this to every boredoms fan and any fan of unique music in general.