JULY 1999

REVIEWS OF NEW MUSIC

BOARDS OF CANADA - Music Has the Right to Children
The cover of this cd is great; spooky and air-conditioned. The music is the same. At times, this mostly instrumental jumble comes off as the loping, kept-in-a-closet cousin of John Carpenter's "Escape From New York" soundtrack. At times, it sounds like Aphex Twin before the drugs kick in, or worse, after they've kicked out. Even if you like most of it, some of it will put you to sleep, and vice versa. GRADE: B-

LATIN PLAYBOYS- Dose
The Los Lobosians get weird like Tom Waits circa "Rain Dogs," and the result is a derranged soundtrack for someone who finds themselves in a pickuptruck on their way to score LSD in Spanish Harlem without really leaving their parent's basement. Short as this record is, there's enough material for the journey and to get arrested along the way, twice. GRADE: B

MOJAVE 3 - Out of Tune
If you tap into the walking alone on the beach crying about the girl who isn't coming on the trip and meanwhile your parents are back at the condo getting drunk without you sort of vibe that is the crux of, say Dyaln's "Blood on the Tracks" then you might like this ephermeral bunch of folk-rock faux-American Brit plaintiveness. Perfect for when you want something sad in the background but not sad enough that one song actually makes you cry in front of your judgemental father. C+

MOBY - PLAY
Mister Moby redeems himself for some odd and even stuff in the years since his amazing "Everything Is Wrong" with this haunting and unusual blend of Moby elementsnow with old blues voice samples. I'd like to take this moment to say that it was me, Erich, who made mix tapes as far back as 96 that had what was at the time very new and futuristisc ambient techno tracks alternating with scratchy blues and gospel music from the twenties. So all this post-modern stuff every one like Moby and Fatboy are doing, I'm the godfather of all that. Mmm-kay? A-

THE BETA BAND - The 3 E.P.'s Collection
COmbining the too laid back to bee obnoxious but still ironic post-modern folk of, say, Beck, with a sort of less abrasive Bonzo Dog Band ethic, these Scots make easy going but continually interesting music, whack tracks as a matter of fact. Recommended: B+