Chemystry Set - Cobblestone Below My Feet (c) 2006 Ogden Park
Artist....: Chemystry Set
Album.....: Cobblestone Below My Feet
Type......: Album
Source....: CDDA
Tracks....: 13
Genre.....: Avantgarde
Label.....: Ogden Park
Catalogue#: TC-04
Encoder...: LAME 3.97
Quality...: VBR kbps / 44.1KHz / Joint-Stereo
URL.......: www.chemystryset.com
Tracklist:
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01 Thwart O-Five 03:50
02 Cobblestone Below My Feet 05:29
03 What We've Got 04:50
04 One Never Knows 02:54
05 Hunger Down 07:20
06 Reinheitsgebot 06:30
07 Lo Grade Dread 05:48
08 Sentimental Journey 01:03
09 Tiger On A Roll 07:46
10 Sait Jamais 04:15
11 All Of That 04:54
12 Zydecongo Stomp 07:53
13 Untitled 00:57
Total:76,6 MB / 63:29 min
Release Notes:
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This eccentric, fun disc made me remember why I first fell in love with
the Grateful Dead û at least until late in the bandÆs life, the Dead
always tried to give you something no one else would or could.
So, listening to Chemystry SetÆs ambitious Cobblestone Below My Feet in
the same spirit of openness that made me appreciate the DeadÆs
Aoxomoxoa or Anthem of the Sun, I realized that Chemystry Set is one
adventurously cool (or is it coolly adventurous?) bunch.
The title track veers between breakneck-paced and anthemically soulful
(with a guitar solo seemingly influenced by JourneyÆs ôLights,ö and
thatÆs OK by me). ôWhat WeÆve Gotö simmers into to a riveting jazz-funk
duet between Baba NdjhoniÆs mandolin and Patty HughesÆ electric piano.
ôOne Never Knowsö sounds like a good String Cheese Incident jam, only
more techno and avant-garde. ôReinheitsgebotö is an even fierier
instrumental, anchored by Joel OppenheimerÆs rolling and tumbling bass;
Hughes raves on the piano, and Sven Eberlein counters with jabs of
guitar.
ôHunger Downö is one groovy number, with a jangly Bo Diddley-esque
vibe, heavy on bass and drums. Eberlein cuts loose on guitar over a
catchy bubbling bass line, and the song ends on a chant-along jam.
ôTiger On a Rollö is another standout, a ballad that crests and falls,
then ends on a powerful electric piano-led jam and finally some pretty,
haunting organ chords.
Perhaps the most fun song on the album is "Sait Jamais." It's sung
entirely in French and has a slinky, loping feel. The main piano riff
sounds really familiar, like a variation on some soul hit from the
mid-'70s.
The closing ôZydecongo Stompö is sort of a trippier Little Feat-type
rave-up. I dig the horns û they make it a leave-it-all-on-the-stage
finale. The trumpet/guitar combo absolutely screams.
Another listen to this disc revealed how unique the vocals are, such as
on ôCobblestone," "Tiger On a Roll,ö and the Joni Mitchell-meets-Rusted
Root "All of That." And, despite repeated listens, I have little idea
what the heck the lyrics mean, but a theme throughout the disc seems to
be people taking advantage of EarthÆs resources (I think?).
Cobblestone, the bandÆs fifth CD, has a great communal feel to it. It
is boldly genre-crossing and yields new discoveries with repeat
listens.