a r t i s t : Three Shades
t i t l e : Thank God For Beatniks
d a t e : 2009
l a b e l : Alien Transistor
c a t : N19CD
s o u r c e : CDDA
g e n r e : Indie
r l s. d a t e : Sep/2009
t r a c k s : 07
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 49,7 MB
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This is the debut full-length release by 3 Shades -- a
collective of musicians (and guests) that one could call a
"supergroup." Based in and around Munich, Germany, members
include Ivica Vucelic (Dis*ka, Die Regierung, Lightnin' Ivi)
on guitar, pedals and vocals; Carl Oesterheld (Carlo Fashion,
F.S.K., Ms. John Soda, Tied & Tickled Trio) on organ,
harmonium, glockenspiel, and metallophone; Markus Acher (The
Notwist, Tied & Tickled Trio, Village Of Savoonga, Lali Puna,
13 & God) on drums, organ, percussion and vocals; and Micha
Acher (The Notwist, Tied & Tickled Trio, Ms. John Soda) on
bass, organ, trombone and trumpet. On Thank God For Beatniks
the band explores soundscapes, rhythm-patterns and moods in
multi-colored shades. Some of them filled with whirling
sunbeams, others covered with smoke and dust. "Bombay Can"
sets the key -- a throbbing and bittersweet harmonium lures
you into a hypnotic groove-monster, filled with echoes from
the past and future. More spinning melodies are offered on
"Subsequently" with hip-hop activist Fat Jon on guest vocals.
"El Topo" is named after Alejandro Jodorowsky's 1970 film,
and is itself a surrealistic trip into a psychedelic desert,
filled with audio hallucinations, a jazz mirage and some
obscure encounters at the Mexican border. More psychedelic
moods in darker colors abound on "Tiny Bits Of Terrible,"
featuring guest vocalist and spoken-word poet Mike Ladd. The
beats are dented, there are eerie whizzing sounds, and nearly
everything is filled with smoke. "Thank God For Beatniks" is
based on lyrics by Afro-American beatnik pioneer Bob Kaufman.
"Sometimes Up" features an abstract ambient soundscape
surrounding a melancholic love song. "Counting The Days"
features guest vocalist Jihae Jean Meek (The Royal We, The
Champagne Socialists) and an acoustic guitar suitable for
night ballads. Thank God For Beatniks remembers when music
was about freedom of speech and revolutionary thought unbound.
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01-Bombay Can [06:03]
02-Subsequently [05:52]
03-El Topo [07:23]
04-Tiny Bits Of Terrible [06:04]
05-Thank God For Beatnikstrack [05:29]
06-Sometimes Up [05:27]
07-Counting The Days [02:24]
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38:42 min