Col.
Bruce Hampton & The Quark Alliance
Give Thanks To Chank
January 7th, 2008 | Posted by: planbee
A new Col. Bruce Hampton album is a definite treat. My excitement
is caused by his rich musical history, a solid sense of musicianship
and a wonderful touch of weirdness. Well known for putting together
amazing bands like The Hampton Grease Band, Late Bronze Age,
and The Aquarium Rescue Unit.
The Colonel's newest aggregation, The Quark Alliance, joins
songwriters Jeff Caldwell, Kris Dale (Squidbillies) and Mark
Letalien with The Colonel to grow from a new branch to the Hampton
musical tree.
Virtuosity and quirkiness - characteristics that keep Hampton
bunched together with Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart - are
here in spades. Most of the tracks are undergirded by a vicious
bass and drum groove. Hampton's bluesy songs are riff-based,
but his solos, vocal delivery, and lyrics, set them off into
another universe altogether.
Take "Susan T," his ode to best pal Susan Tedeschi.
The chorus goes like this: "Susan T, she is the queen of..."
This is where Hampton reaches deep down inside and launches
that gutteral groan shout that is becoming his calling card.
You know exactly what he means. "Them Dickinson Boys"
is exactly what is best about Hampton. Based around a funky
guitar figure, Hampton is preaching up a storm about these guys.
John Lennon's chap in "Come Together" got nothing
on these guys. With acupuncture, catfish, toys, IDs, instruments,
the state line, covered wagons going west, these guys apparently
have something to say. The combination of his spastic whammy
bar guitar and Butthead vocal attack at the close of the song
is worth the price of admission by itself.
Jeff Caldwell's songs serve as an anchoring point for Hampton's
wild excursions. Caldwell's soul-drenched silky Curtis Mayfield-like
tones are a wonderful juxtaposition to Hampton's growling soul
shouting and Caldwell's more traditionally constructed songs
are a welcome hook to hang your hat on after Hampton's trippy
tracks. "I'm Not Listening" highlights its sexy hooky
chorus, with Stevie Wonder bass phrases and stuttery, punchy-yet-flowing
guitar break begs for repeated listenings. The 13 minute plus
live instrumental "Lanerville" gives a chance for
guests Ike Stubblefield and Grant Green, Jr. to strut their
stuff. The otherwordly whitenoise fuzz effects of closing instrumental,
"Threnody to the Victims of Louisiana," is soundwise
a very fit elegy for the sufferers from Hurricane Katrina.
If you are ready for some different-yet-satisfying music, check
out Give Thanks To Chank. It's good for what ails you.
--Bob Felberg December 10, 2007 |
FromThe
HomeGrown Music Network 2007
