This is the latest of several Sluggo's Goon projects I've had a chance to review and, like the others (e.g. Dave Corp and At war with Self), this is another fine piece of work, albeit rather more experimental than the aforesaid stable-mates. Von Garcia is in fact the work of the two founders of the New York based label, James von Buelow and Damon Trotta who have over 40 years combined experience in the music industry. They describe their music as 'ambient noise-rock' a description likely to put off 99% of the music listening population which would be a pity because the music on this album is fact far more accessible than that portrayal suggests.
Featuring 11 pieces of music the cd ranges from spacey soundscapes to hard-edged biting guitar work. "Ursa Major" is a suitably cosmological concoction with some fine percussion work set amidst a sea of synths and a very pleasant vocal (I think from Riotgod's Mark Sunshine). Glenn Selwar from At War With Self provides some very tasty Gilmour-like guitar breaks to add to the space-symphony structure. The work fades out into a mingled multi-vocal sequence as the instruments wind down to a simple drum and synth and then gentle guitar rhythm and drum finish before segueing into the more improvisational second track which continues the space theme. The slow build from the handover develops into a hard-hitting drum and grungy guitar arrangement where the metamorphic guitar drives several changes in pace and feel. Steve Decker's drumming here, as throughout this album, is expertly attuned to Trotta and Von Buelow's ideas and is integral to the music rather than a supplier of basic rhythm. All the more surprising given that this album was largely constructed through computer technology and more or less live one take instrumental contributions.
Into some shorter pieces, "The fog and the mist" has a wonderful rhythmic psychedelic feel with some hints of Laurie Anderson in the ethereal vocal narrative and soaring guitar crescendos. Its followed by the laconic cinematic imagery in "Rain Water". Damon's own description of the album could not be more apt here "It plays like water. It washes over you but it'll still shine up a stone or turn the highest mountain to sand with plenty of colours in between." Those 'colours' are a vocal feature of the next work, the stuttering percussion, loops, sudden noises and guitar jerks playing around with the narrated spectrum, all set in a generously open sound production.
The lengthy piece, "Buz", has Ben Monder fronting the intricate guitar-based improvisation. Sharp and sensuous chords seem to come at you from all sides, licking and snipping at the edges of the bass rhythm which carries the work through. Like some of the modern post-rock artists, the track uses a build, central peak and climb down for its structure, akin to an interesting version of Mogwai. The better comparison would perhaps be to parts of the Red Sparrowes debut album. The avant-garde approach carries through the next short explosive instrumental and into the mysterious "Between a Prayer and a Dream" where a sharply bending bass line underpins the esoteric guitar and keyboards. "So it goes", a gentle melancholic song, shows that they can write in more traditional ways and the album is closed by a short, Trey Gunn-like instrumental and "Garden Buddha", which opens with a synthesised soundscape remarkably similar to the intro to Hawkwind's legendary "Master of the Universe". It doesn't develop any riffs however and soon loses its this connection to become a pensive mix of languorous guitar and delicate percussion.
All in all another fine release from the Sluggos with exceptional production quality.
Track Listing
1. Ursa Minor
2. Space
3. The fog and the mist
4. Rain water
5. JP Splatter
6. Buz
7. Empty hands
8. Between a prayer and a dream
9. So it goes
10. Rebirth
11. Garden Buddha
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