Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The Front Fell Off
This isn't necessarily our standard music post, but this is without a doubt the funniest thing we've ever seen. Politicians are the same everywhere, and here's the proof.
Don't know for a fact that this is real, but it's too spot on to be a parody. Only Monty Python could've come up with better. If it's parody, it's genius.
Thoughts?
Monday, September 29, 2008
Rumors Heard in MySpace: Episode 8












Sunday, September 28, 2008
A Sunday Conversation With Mountain Mirrors

When you write a piece of music, do you consciously write from the mind set of being different than what's out there now?

In songwriting, how do you bring the song together? What do you look for in terms of complexity? Simplicity? Time changes?
What is you musical intention? What are you trying to express or get your audience to feel?

What piece of your music are you particularly proud of?
Where do you see you and your music going in ten years?
What's the best record store in your town?
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Ripple Seasonal Listening Guide - Summer into Fall - An Amazing Alliteration of Attractive Alterna-Pop


Near brilliant angular indy pop from our fine friends at Polyvinyl Records, 31Knots creates music that demands you stop buying Halloween decorations and plastic centerpiece turkeys and pay attention and listen. Kicking off with an accapella/handclap stab of alt-indy funk, the shimmering guitars of "Certificate," bubble up from underneath, launching us into a dub-esque, acute alterna-pop gem. Hints of early Gang of Four flow in the nasal vocals, stabbing guitar lines and the rolling bass fills. This is adventurous rock, colored with a broad brush stroke of post-punk, rousing and invigorating, just like the first sting of that coming autumn wind.
As varied and multicolored as the leaves you'll soon be raking, 31Knots isn't content to explore one hue, one shade of their muse. They refuse to be pigeonholed into one sound. "The Breaks," attacks with a raw energy brimming through it's near dub bass line. Even within this one song, the boys aren't content to follow one vein, shifting gears to the bombastic chorus with stuttering drum rolls and escalating vocals, before dropping the bottom end right back into their edgy version of dub. These two tracks alone should give you enough to explore as your days end earlier, but if you got that adventuresome bone in your bod, the boys are here to comply. Experimenting with tribal rhythms, jazzy undercurrents, tinkling keyboards, sheets of guitar noise and obtuse structures, each song sounds like it's own moment of inspired creation. With so much esoteric variety thrown into the mix, some songs come off better than others, but none can be condemned for lack of effort. And have no fear, if a particular song isn't starting off to your liking, stick around a bit, it's certain to change to a whole new vibe at sometime before completion. A hectic, at times near-schizophrenic listen, like the change of the seasons, and all the better because of it.

Not a new one, but one that might have gotten away on first release. The iOs craft delicate, jaunty alterna-pop that, at its best, makes your head bob up and down as quickly as as if your neck had just turned you into a Barry Bonds bobble-head doll. Released in 2006, In Sunday Songs features the dual vocal interplay of male and female leads, blending together over shimmering, yet muscular guitars. A perfect combination when you still want something on the lighter-side, but shaded for the upcoming winter. Just check out the album cover, it's time to get your slickers and boots out!
"Neverright," was the just missed hit from this disc, a rolling, swirling wash of organ-textured keyboards and charging guitar, rocking in a not too vicious indy way. The closest comparison I can come up with is The Mysteries of Life, with that same intensely melodic, slightly mournful vibe. Definitely an ipod keeper. And the rest of the disc follows suit, expanding from the vaguely Green Day-esque, but better, "Resident Alien," to the smoldering, retro-sixties pop of "Every Waking Moment," to the sheer magnificence of "Come True." All great to set your morning's soundtrack as you grab your scarf, wrap it around your neck and watch the breath plume from your mouth.

Bringing on a Beatles-inspired a-la-the-garage brand of alterna-pop, The Ms blend a touch of T-Rex and a smattering of psychedelia into their third full-length record, and second for the ever reliable Polyvinyl. Adding a touch of fuzz to their retro rock, and at times ("Breakfast Score") sounding like they borrowed a page from the Kinks songbook, this is mostly energetic, down-home feeling romp through a maze of their influences and hints at their future direction.
"Big Sound," is just that, a big, swaggering opener, guitars crashing through the fuzz and the undeniable melodies. "Pigs Fly," is a delicate, introspective slice of pop heaven, T-Rex brought back to life in the new millennium, with the bands best vocal performance. "Get Your Shit Together," brings on traces of "Get Back"-era Beatles. "Impossible View," and "Bros in Arms," bring the rock back, with the second track being one of my favorites, a grooving, undulating number played over of throbbing bass line. Subtle moments of beauty like, "Trying to Keep," and "Don't Be Late," abound. Don't think we're all retro here. Touches of experimentation can be found, such as the synth tone in "Ultraviloent Men." With it's own touch of melancholy and a dusting of Americana brushed over its British Invasion roots, this is a great one to play by the fire, as the wood crackles, the sparks ascend and the hot cocoa goes down wet and warm.

Alternatingly haunting and mesmerizing, or raucous and dissonant, Joan of Arc is the creation of indy rock pariah Tim Kinsella, and those who've heard his prior works know what to expect with his latest offering, Boo Human; expect the unexpected. Brandishing a vocal delivery that begs you to either love it or leave it, a fine acoustic guitar and the firm tattoo of experimentation blazoned across his frontal lobe, Joan of Arc is a languishing, mesmerizing listen. "Shown and Told," highlighted by a delicate solo acoustic guitar, a fine melody and a strong Kinsella vocal performance is a stunningly beautiful track, certainly the soundtrack for wandering thoughts as you stare through the mist on your window, watching the leaves slowly change from green to yellow to red. As fragile as a whisper, floating as if gossamer, this may be one of the most chilling, gorgeous songs of the season.
"Laughter Reflected Back," kicks in with a jazz fusion feel, pushed forward by a gentle polyrhythm. "Just Pack or Unpack," drifts through moments of dissonance to bring on a groovy, finger-snapping ode to love in trouble. I have no problem with Kinsella's voice through out. Here the vocals are mostly subdued and mellow, at times intentionally reaching beyond his limits sounding like Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes. "Vine on a Wire," sets the tone for most of the album, a folksy, alterna-Americana, a vague, more languid R.E.M.-tone, dancing over delicately picked guitars and subtle washes of experimental synths and effects. Certainly, Kinsella is a serious guy, and some of the lyrics gravitate towards melodrama, but who cares? Isnt' that what autumn is all about? A time for melodrama, for reflection? Don't pass this one up. The music throughout is gorgeous, experimental without being overly challenging, melancholy without being maudlin. And besides, it takes a special talent to make a song titled, " A Tell-Tale Penis," (see video) sound this beautiful.
Buy here: Real Close Ones
Boo Human
In Sunday Songs
Worried Well
www.polyvinylrecords.com
www.kaninerecords.com
31 Knots
The M's
Joan of Arc
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Ernie Halter - Starting Over

Starting Over opens with “Different Lives,” and with Ernie’s voice hitting all of the right marks. Through the verses, there’s a somewhat plaintive tone going on as Ernie tells the tale of how everything went wrong during a relationship, and then shifts to a more uplifting and hopeful tone as he reaches the chorus and has found some acceptance that the two went their separate ways. “Different Lives” is a well written bluesy, R&B type track that tells a captivating story. I particularly liked the lyrics about taking down the pictures from the house, removing the reminders of the pain. The breakdown towards the end of the track where we’re left with just Ernie’s voice and a muted acoustic guitar hammering away is a wonderful production touch.
Things get downright funky with “Blue Dress.” The bass work from Zachary Rudulph adds the vibe that makes this tune a true funk burner. Ernie takes the vocals to a new level of sultry suave, pining for that hot chick in the blue dress. In my mind’s eye, I see her too, and I see what the big deal is! That dress is driving me just as crazy! It’s a true talent for a musician to so vividly create an image that the listener can key into.
“My Heart Is With You” has that jazzy blues based piano layin’ down the foundation of the tune, but it’s Ernie’s voice and lyrics that are in the spotlight. It’s another great tale of love, and about missing that special girl who happens to be miles away. It’s filled with all of that heartfelt sentiment that you’re looking for to tug on the heart strings. The tune is followed up with the David Ryan Harris (Follow For Now) penned ditty, “Pretty Girl,” which walks in hand with “My Heart Is With You.” Heartfelt and sentimental, stripped down to its roots, the song is just fun. Performed with just an acoustic guitar, it’s one of those tunes that you can’t help but smile while listening to.

I can’t express enough how incredible this tune is. You simply need to hear it for yourselves. Rather than completely leave y’all hangin’, here are a few thoughts on the tune. “Lighthouse” draws more from gospel than any of the other genres mentioned and has that “Lean On Me” or “Bridge Over Troubled Water” spirit, inspiration, and power. I hear this tune, and I reminiscence on when music was a vehicle of power rather than a cash machine. Finding the strength to be that savior for someone who’s lost is heady stuff, and Ernie’s performance on this track is as captivating as the two aforementioned classics.
I’ve heard the old adage my entire life, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Blah, blah, blah. I know. I’m a creature of habit. I'm working on it. But fortunately, Ernie Halter is one of the key components to my breaking this nasty habit of casually casting stuff aside before I’ve given it a fair chance. Starting Over is a phenomenal album! I speak from the heart here folks. There’s not a bad track on this thing, and the tracks that I’ve mentioned are my attempt to key your initial focus on the highlights. Once you’ve gone through the album and recognized these highlights, the rest of the albums subtle beauty will unfold for you and you’ll be transfixed by sounds that were created by the heavens. Seriously. I’m not saying that Ernie is God, just that he’s potentially a vessel for heavenly works. ‘nuff said . . . great album, pick it up, embrace its warmth and beauty, and be a better person for it.
-- Pope JTE
Buy here: Starting Over
Monday, September 22, 2008
Bigelf - Cheat the Gallows

Sometimes, perseverance pays off.
That certainly sums up my experience with the rock and roll carnival of doom known as Bigelf.
I've never quite had this strong of a reaction to an album before. Upon my first listen to Cheat the Gallows, I didn't like it. On second listen, I just didn't get it. On third listen, I became interested. On fourth listen, I was fascinated. By the fifth listen, I was addicted and now I can't imagine you ever prying it out of my stiff little black fingernail painted hands.
In order to make sense of all that, you have to understand a few things. One, I'd never heard of Bigelf before or their prior works of mad macabre magnificent metal mayhem (don't you love alliteration?). Second, I'm just not a huge fan of pomp rock, I tend to like things cleaner, more straight forward with bigger riffs and less filler. And if Bigelf is anything, trust me, it's pomp. This is a rolling carnival of bombastic, theatrical rock brought to you courtesy of a circus freakshow of musicians. Imagine if you dare, a perfect blending of Welcome to my Nightmare-era Alice Cooper with the big melodies and production of Sgt Pepper-era Beatles, throw in a mighty helping of a mean-spirited ELO and a smattering of the glam of Sweet, add a sprinkling of Bowie and even a pinch of Pink Floyd and you'll begin to get the picture.
This is rock like very little else you've heard recently, big and loud and proud to be blowing the shit up your skirt. And when I say big, I mean big. This is huge rock and roll, big enough to fill the whole center tent in this bizarre circus of madness. Coming at you like a soundtrack of some surreal Fellini carnival movie, where all the clowns are evil and wear too much make-up and rather than make you laugh, they laugh at you, in some sneering, sickening way that makes your sphincter tighten until you actually suck your underwear up your butt. Yeah, descriptive, I know. But that's Bigelf. Evil and doomy and big and glorious and more fun than a kid's party in a cyanide-laced cotton candy factory.
"Gravest Show on Earth," is this disc's call to action (notice the very descriptive twist on the more common, "Greatest Show on Earth," that gives you all the hint you need as to where this beast is heading.) An MC's barking, wide-armed introduction to the twisted Big Top, the bizarre trip down the rabbit hole you're about to make. But this isn't Wonderland you're going to land into. This is a swirling maelstrom of frightening sights. Remember the scene from the movie Poltergeist, where the child is scared that the nasty looking harlequin doll in his room may come to life and kill him in the middle of the night? Yeah, he's here. And he's got a cleaver in his hand. This intro is similar to Alice Cooper's call to horror as Nightmare began or his descent into hades during Goes to Hell. Big guitars, big horns, big drums and big chills. Swirling and undulating, complete with the sinister voice hearkening that he's sure "you'll have a grand old time." Only you know you won't.

"Money, It's Pure Evil," may be the albums main single, in all it's Flyod-isms, but my money's on the tear-it up glam rock of "The Evils of Rock and Roll." Starting with a swirling organ and picked guitar, the bombast pours in with all the grandeur of the gates of hell opening before you, reminding you that you're still lost somewhere in the twisted horror that these guys call a funhouse. Keyboards of unexpected beauty lead the song until the minute-forty mark, when everything drops out but the most perfect charging Purple-esque guitar-riff that you've heard since "Speed King." From there on the songs a full-on charger, a masterwork of glam rock, leading to the big chorus and brilliant lead guitar break. Any fan of classic rock would tip their hat to this one.
"No Parachute," reminds me of Alice's plea of "Didn't We Meet," as he realizes he's in hell, a gentle, morbid number played over a strummed guitar. "The Game," features some excellent lead guitar as it rides more time changes than can be found in a Swiss clockmaker's studio right into the unabashed fury that is "Superstar," another scorching skewer of T-Rex/Bowie inspired glam metal. Your mad Master of Ceremonies jumps back in, charging you through a "Race With Time," before the maniacal madness of "Hydra," featuring as many changing riffs, time switches and melodies as that mythical multi-headed snake. An absolutely fierce freak-out of frenzied fictional fury (too much alliteration there?).
"Counting Sheep," acts as the show closer, a near operatic, theatrical epic eleven-minute journey through our MC's mental instability. The harlequins are closing in with damning eyes, charging amidst a flurry of carnival organs, searing guitars and synths. Terrifying things pop out at you from unexpected corners. Your world swirls in and out of chaos. Whew! At this point, as the tent door finally flaps open, allowing the sunlight back into your world of darkness, you can only thank whatever God you pray to that you survived and made it safely back home.
Or at least, you think you did. Last I checked, the CD was still sitting in your player, waiting to be spun again. And while the journey terrified you, somehow, you can't stop yourself from reaching once again for that play button as if it holds some demonic power over you. The harlequins are spinning around your head. The clowns are laughing.
It's time for the carnival to start once again.
--Racer
www.bigelf.com
Buy here: Cheat the Gallows
Sunday, September 21, 2008
A Sunday Conversation with Poobah

Seem like you've been going it for years. When did Poobah first get together?

1972 was the year we formed and somehow, someway, put out that first Poobah record. We still play 4 of the songs from that album live. "Mr.Destroyer," "Bowleen," "Live to work," and "Enjoy.")
I love those songs.
And after all those years, you've still got the fire. I hear you're back in the studio, recording a new album. What is that, your 11th?
The 12th. And that Poobah CD is again full of wild and crazy guitar work. The working title is Salad. My songwriting, I believe is getting better all the time. The songs feature some complex guitar parts, yet still appeal to those who love guitar rock music. There is some wild vocal stuff on this new work, too. More guitar fueled blues rock, also. I have been a big blues fan since my teens, and own many cool recordings in that genre.
Your last disc was Underground. Is there a special meaning behind that name?
Yes, the title Underground was relating to the fact that Poobah, though widely known in guitar rock circles, is still below the radar, compared to major label artists (regardless of talent) who have the radio to support them. That still is the big companies grip on the music industry, the radio waves. The internet has helped many unknown artists gain popularity, but to sell millions of plastic discs, you usually need radio play. That's the monopoly in the music world.
I first released the Underground CD in late 2005, or early 2006 (I forget). It has sold well on our site and at shows. I really love this CD, and think it is gonna be remembered as a classic (at least to me, ha ha). It is some of the best rock guitar and vocals I think, ever recorded. I think any fans of Zep, Sabbath, Purple, etc., are going to love this slab of powerful guitar noise.
What keeps you motivated? What inspires you?

Your music is a guitar effect lover's dream. You must own every effect pedal on this planet. For the budding guitar techie, what are your favorites?
I love guitar effects, pedals, rackmounts, etc. Some people say they only play right into an amp, but I say versatility and changing tones on a recording makes for more interesting listening. I don't want all my songs to sound the same. Experimenting with pedals, is really fun for me, and has sparked some song ideas. I am an endorser for Morley pedals in Chicago. They have sent me 5 Wah, and Volume pedals, and I love 'em! I also use a Dunlop tremolo, a Boss Octaver, a Line 6 echo DL-4, a Tech 21 Compressor/distortion, a Digitech Flanger, a Rat distortion rack and many more. I have a nice collection.
You have a few great straight up, but guitar-frenzied, blues numbers on Underground.

When it's all said and done, how would you like Poobah to be remembered?
I would love for Poobah to be remembered as a good band that made cool songs, with hot guitar playing. I don't expect everyone to like Poobah, as I hear some people say they don't like Hendrix or Cream, or (insert name here). I never expect people who only like one kind of music or one artist, to want to listen to me. Some folks are narrow minded, so, since you can't please everyone, might as well please yourself !
Hey, I see that Poobah has their own music video. How'd that come about?

If you had to choose one, what's the prototypical Poobah song?
The prototypical Poobah song... Hmmm, maybe "Bowleen." I try hard to make many different types of songs, and I hope I have achieved this. It bores me to have songs sound too much alike. I have never enjoyed an album where one song sounds just like the rest. I love it when an artist gives you some variety in their work. I feel that gives the music a longer life, with repeat listens.
On the CD Underground, there are several songs that stand out to me. They would be "Underground," "Better," "Mushroom Man," "Souls,"and "Secret." I must admit, though, I feel there are no weak songs on the disc.
I couldn't agree more. Thanks for joining us, Jim, it was great talking with you. Best of success always.
Thanks for your questions, Racer. I am going back in the studio this week for more new Poobah. I will have a new CD for you soon! And it is blazing hot!
Check out Poobah at:
www.poobahband.com
Friday, September 19, 2008
Heir to Madness - The Citadel

Buy here:
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Vanessa Kafka - Into Place

It was way back in June that we first heard the dreamy tones of Vanessa’s musical creation, alerted by her friend Kristen at Aberrant Sound/Brewhouse Records and it didn’t take more than a few listens to her myspace offerings for me and the Pope to recognize that we were tuning in to something special. Three months later, with the release of her debut full-length CD, Into Place, Vanessa just went ahead and surpassed our grandest expectations.
A singer gifted with a voice of uncommon beauty, Vanessa has crafted a dreamy, atmospheric yet rootsy, heart-felt collection of telling and poignant songs. Early Ripple favorites “Silhouette,” “If He Stays,” and “Tell Me So,” sit comfortably with new songs like “Better,” creating a CD full of power, romance and touching splendor. The impeccably clean production never loses its warmth or intimacy, drawing you into the vastness of Vanessa's heart, fully exposed on this album. Like a fire crackling on a cold winter's night, Vanessa beckons to you, drawing you in, wrapping around you in a cocoon of dreamy melodies. Like the fire, her music is naked and slightly dangerous, yet comforting and mesmerizing. Raw, yet refined. It is the music of emotion, hers and ours, shared and individual, personal and universal.
Blessed with a voice that fits somewhere between Suzanne Vega, and Natalie Merchant, with traces of the mournful intonations of Sarah McLachlan, Vanessa has no difficulty carrying the heart-wrenching emotion of her songs. Accompanied by a top-notch group of musicians, including her producer and guitarist, Brian Sargent, the music comes to life effortlessly around her, like a field of clouds carrying her in its wispy path through tales of broken hearts, shattered dreams, and ultimate hope.
“Speak in Words,” starts us off on our journey through Vanessa’s heart, delicate and fragile, riding on the muted notes of a single guitar. As the band kicks in, so does the power of Vanessa’s voice. Sounding strongly reminiscent of Natalie Merchant on this track, the verses build in intensity, the band growing in fervor, Vanessa’s voice rising in power as she searches for a lost connection with her lover. A dynamite opening track, revealing the full intention of where Vanessa plans to take us with this disc.

Into Place isn’t a rocking album, not something to accompany your nights shooting pool with the boys or watching NASCAR with your friend the plumber, but it’ll be a damn fine listen the morning after. An album to listen to, to mediate over, to use as your own catharsis, discovering emotions that perhaps you never took the time to express yourself. I could go on about each song, but that may dampen your own thrill of discovery, so I’ll call it here. Just know that a new voice is in town that just demands to be heard. So grab a hot cup of tea, sit with your dog on the back deck, scratching him behind the ears in time to the drums, watch the hummingbird flutter back and forth in your flower garden and sit a while with this one. Let it enter you. Let it fill you.
You just might find out something about yourself in the process.
--Racer
Buy here: Into Place
Download Vanessa for free.
http://www.brewhouserecords.com/03_silhouette.mp3
Buy here: Into Place
Download Vanessa for free.
http://www.brewhouserecords.com/03_silhouette.mp3
Monday, September 15, 2008
Hollow Corp. - Cloister of Radiance

Hailing from France, the music reflects the polar opposite of all that we, as Americans, know or think we know about the country. This isn’t music that depicts the Eiffel Tower, the picturesque countryside with rows upon rows of vineyards, or the dreamy seaside resorts of the Riviera. Basically, there’s nothing Nice about it (sorry, I couldn’t resist a little pun.) This is music that depicts the gritty nastiness of humanity, the darkest times of despair, and the blackness of an eternity wallowing in self misery. I’m curious how hard France’s Minister of Tourism fought to keep Cloister of Radiance from seeing the light of day. This is a snapshot of the France that you won’t see in any of the tour guides.
“Code” is masterpiece in groundbreaking technicality while remaining dark and menacing throughout. Drum rolls introduce the song for a lot longer than one would typically anticipate, and then the band kick in with an all out aural attack. The vocals, though gruff and aggressive, aren’t of the death metal variety and convey the perfect amount of gut fire menace. The key to this song sticking in my brain is the psychedelic jazzy break just about three minutes in. I mean . . . where the hell did this passage come from? Absolutely amazing and thrilling to hear the band take such a left turn rather than go down the same road others have gone before. The bass line is great as it weaves and wanders amidst the meandering of the guitars. Before you know it, the whole band is back in together and riffing away. And, it only gets better the more I listen to it! That’s some hot shit, guys!
The beginning build up of “Peripherals” makes me think back to Panopticon from Isis, with its droning, dense wall of sound effect. The distorted bass rumblings add such an incredible amount of weight to this tune while the vocals of Stephane Azam add the airiness that the song needs to keep from being buried under the weight of the instruments. Suddenly, as if a whole new band magically appeared, Hollow Corp. kick into a riff for the ages. Simplistic in structure, which makes it all the more intense, the band bring a world of torment to every note pulled screaming from their amplifiers. The vocals shed all of that earlier airiness and spit venom into the ears of all brave enough to listen. Tortured and full of misery, Hollow Corp. have an epic tune in “Peripherals.”

Yeah. That rocks.
Cloister of Radiance is about as unexpected a find as I’ve had in my music collecting life. This album is technically brilliant and emotionally brutal. Though there are those wonderful musical passages mixed throughout the album, Cloister of Radiance is an extreme metal album and shouldn’t be approached as anything but that. But, it’s an extreme metal album that has so much damn character to it. So many nuances. So much flavor. So different than the tired extreme metal that follows the same path as those who came before. Hollow Corp. is a visionary band in that they’ve approached their music from a different place and show no fear in pushing the boundaries of the creativeness. They’ve stared into the dark places and took the right amount of what they needed from the abyss to convey their fears and frustrations. I’ve never had any interest in visiting France before, but I may be changing my thoughts on that real soon. Viva la France!
-- Pope JTE
Buy here: Cloister of Radiance
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

That’s the situation Pink Floyd found themselves in after the unexpected, “overnight” success of Dark Side of the Moon. Although they’d notched a couple of British top 20 singles off their 1967 Syd Barrett created psychedelic debut, Pink Floyd toiled in and out of obscurity over on American shores. That all ended instantly in 1973 with the release of Dark Side, which entered the charts at #95, quickly rose to #1 and established Pink Floyd as world-wide superstars. Amongst it’s themes of fear, alienation and the coldness of modern living, Pink Floyd and primary songwriter Roger Waters managed to scale down the meandering scope of their prior works, like More, into sharper, more consistent songs. Adding to that the top 20 hit, “Money,” there was no stopping the boys on their runaway train of success.
So how do you follow that up? In Pink Floyd’s case the response two years in the making was to create an album arguably even better, more stunning in musicianship and more aggressive in content than Dark Side. Without the benefit of an instantly infectious bass line like the lead in to “Money,” Wish You Were Here still rose to #1 on the charts, revealing David Gilmour to be a guitarist of amazing power and fury, and Waters to be a songwriter of biting wit and sarcasm.
Starting off with the tribute to their rock and roll tragedy leader, Syd Barrett, “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” is a liquid-rock, sprawling, rolling epic. A slow burner, never in a hurry to get to an imaginary finish line, the song tells the story of Barrett’s brush with insanity (“Threatened by shadows in the night”) told through the alternating slow jazz and searing lead guitar lines of Gilmour. A slow burning sax solo, an ambient keyboard scape, a gentle pulsing bass. This is jazz, classical in its composition, rock in its intensity.
Then, without pausing, the dull, ominous keyboard of “Welcome to the Machine,” rises from the underground. Threatening and haunting, the keyboards build amongst a random cacophony of sound effects, a strummed acoustic guitar, finally breaking into a humanly distant vocal. Water’s cynicism is on full display in this mechanized, dehumanizing song. This theme runs throughout the album, a loose concept about the cruelty and greediness of the music industry and its effects on the delicate psych of Syd, leading him deep into his own world of insanity. Understated, Gilmour’s guitar ticks through his notes while Rick Wright’s keyboards lay on the heavy industrially sterile vibe.
“Have a Cigar,” bubbles out next, funky and meaty, Gilmour’s guitar work shines on this epic tale of the greed and duplicity of the music industry, leading us to the classic lyric, “Oh, by the way, which one’s Pink.” To highlight their point, the band turns the vocal over to Roy Harper, a semi-obscure folk/progster for whom the industry machine had always failed. This is the closets thing Wish You Were Here had to “Money,” plying a similar funky vibe, and would eventually become an FM radio staple. “Wish You Were Here,” is a simpler, touching acoustic ode to Barrett before the band launches back into the extended space jazz/rock jam of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” parts 6-9.
Rumor has it that Barrett made a surprise appearance in the studio during the final mixing of “Diamond,” buried in a trenchcoat, overweight, shorn of hair and eyebrows, totally oblivious to the fact that the song playing was an ode to himself.
Recorded at
--Racer
Buy here: Wish You Were Here