Matumba Matumba - Batanai Marimba

Advantages: Well, it's certainly DIFFERENT. Oh, and she looks cool on the cover!
Disadvantages: oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-god-not-that

...tom-toms, tympani and sticks!) In fact the whole album is dominated by rhythms rather than melodies. SWEATERS I've already warned you about. It's about falling out of love and is the musical equivalent of sarin. Don't even THINK about downloading it from Napster - your sound card would crash in disgust. WALKING & FALLING is, er, profoundly obvious: ~You're walking. And you don't always realize it, but you're always falling ~With each step, you fall forward slightly. ~And then catch yourself from falling... ~And this is how you can be walking and falling at the same time. BORN, NEVER ASKED is probably my favourite track. After a slightly cynical description of a maternity ward, it turns into an instrumental juxtaposition of violin, marimba and electronic claps. Any track which includes a marimba can't be bad. (A marimba is... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Music that is innovative and original and strangely beautiful
Disadvantages: One or two tracks prevent the album from being an all time classic

...on one of those self-hypnosis CDs. It has a beautiful simplicity that also hides the subtle humour that dwells beneath the surface of many of these compositions. 'Born, Never Asked' is another beautiful uplifting piece of music. It starts off with just Laurie's soothing vocals citing surreal lyrics and then slowly adds in an instrumental mix of violin, marimba and electro percussion. Some of the other tracks on the album border on experimental jazz and have a harder edge. The hypnotic opening track 'From the Air' incorporates funky jazz elements with spoken lyrics and a background synthesiser. It's one of the tracks on the album that rolls along at a fairly fast tempo. It's heavy going at first but kind of grows on you after a few listens. The lyrics seem to describe the preparation on board a plane about to crash land. Given the context... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Melodic, emotional and packed full of talent
Disadvantages: There aren't any more albums

...Formed in 1994, Mad Season was a grunge super group formed of vocalist Layne Staley (Alice in Chains), guitarist Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), bassist John Baker Saunders (The Walkabouts) and Screaming Trees drummer Barrett Martin playing drums, double bass, cello, marimba and vibraphone. There were also guest vocals on 'I'm Above' and 'Long Gone Day' from Mark Lanegan (also from Screaming Trees) and saxophonist Skiek on 'Long Gone Day'. Their only Album, Above, was produced by Brett Eliason and released in 1994. 'Wake Up' - Lyrics - Staley, Music - Staley McCready, Martin, Saunders 'The cracks and lines from where you gave up They make an easy man to read' The album opens with a long hypnotic melody based around a simple bass riff, gentle percussion and a slow build in tension using meandering vocals and fluctuating lead... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful