Things start off strange, as the voice of the late Serena Toxicat chants surreal texts while framed by Chaudhary's electronic drums and synthesizer washes on Invocation (French Miaou Bast). It's all very mysterious and moody, and one would think that it would set the emotional tone for the disc. It does not, as one of Amanda's great Pop Jazz tunes, White Wine, follows it. Disaster Amnesiac has heard Amanda sing this one, but on the CD it's performed by Amy X. Neuburg, who gives the lyrics her characteristic sparkle. ROVA new guy Steve Adams gives lyrical alto saxophone solo, and then Amanda follows with her astute keyboard ruminations. Funky rhythm section players Jamaaladeen Tacuma and G Calvin Weston swing the changes and then throw down a nice thick rhtymic carpet for the melodic players to do their thing. It's all happy and cool, with a tripped out tag line before the last chorus and nice, big finish. Cables and Carafes showcases Amanda's creative use of various synthesizers, with a good melody that is supported by really keen sounds from the various widgets and whirlies that Chaurdary knows with great insight and plays with great skill. Weston slams his characteristic style and clearly enjoys wacking China cymbals Cobham-style all over the sucka. Phuture Phunk Phor Phrenetik Phables here, all the way out to Pluto. Chaudhary's lyric song craft comes back into play for North Berkeley BART, with singing again handled by Neuburg. As always, her voice delivers pleasantly, with her clear enunciation and tone. What a great singer. Adams brings back his alto stylings, Chaudhary finds even more odd keyboard sounds, Tacuma and Weston syncopate like crazy, and then Neuburg brings it home. It would be SO bitchen if BART would release this song as a limited edition 7" commemorative next year for North Bekeley BART's 50th anniversary, with art by Aaron Cometbus. I'd buy one, and I don't even like BART very much. Something for the bean counters over there to consider. The star of Under the Ceiling Fan for me is Sheldon Brown. His bass clarinet solo on this track gives further proof of how intelligent and creative a musician Mr. Brown is. Any time he plays, it's for real, and Disaster Amnesiac is stoked to hear something new from him. Beutiful, impressionistic keyboard solo for Chaudhary as well, along with real lovely harmony playing from Adams. Just gorgeous! Gimme some more of that white wine from earlier, I wanna float! Meow Meow Band concludes with Donershtik, wherein Weston and Chaudhary rock a seriously robotic groove and Tacuma gets dirty on top of it. Chaudhary seems to pull from her formative years in the Big Apple on this one. It's got all of the urgency of that city, with all of the "fuck it, let's just dance" vibe that has always been so critical for people navigating it. That could apply anywhere else, as attested to by how Mrs. Amnesiac is dancing in our living room as I type these words. I myself have definitely rocked a few Travolta moves as we've played the disc on trips about town.
It seems as though Amanda Chaudhary has fulfilled a long-term ambition with Meow Meow Band, which would be the blending of high minded, academic head music sounds and harmonies with danceable, fun grooves and moves. This short, sweet release is a real pleasure to take in for all of that, and it's been to listen to as Disaster Amnesiac has kicked off 2022. Meeeeoooooowwwww!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment