2005-02-17 - 14:23

Phantascope by the Anubian Lights

My CD player has been having unfortunate, unnecessary, inexplicable skipping problems of late. So when I put in The Anubian Lights and track one, Wild Winter came on I thought, “Oh, for fuck sake.” Then, I noticed that the counter was clicking off perfectly measured intervals. I stared blankly at it for a moment. Adele Bertei screeched, “I’m vexed!” And then I thought, “So, that’s how its going to be.” Hell yes. Tommy Grenas and Len Del Rio join Adele Bertei in creating what is a fantastic, if at first surprising, CD.

Phantascope is the Anubian Lights’ debut for the new record label Rhythmbank. It plays like three capable, talented, creative musicians got together and said, “Shall we make some music?” Each track has its own feel to it, most of them driven forward by well placed and well selected samples. In places, it gets a little to electronica for me, like on track 6, but those moments are few and far between.

On “Good Morning Spacegirl” I was completely lost until Bertei’s almost jazz delivery of the verses occurred. The choruses made me think of Sugarcubes ala Life’s Too Good, spoken word with an almost didactic intention. The introduction of strings that screech off into electronic pings around minute three is genius.

My favorite track on the CD is track two, Bhajan. Listening to it one evening, I was struck by a reminder of State of Bengal, only this is more dynamic. Tommy Grenas casually delivering lyrics in a soft, yet staccato rhythm and Bertei crooning in the background over a very chill rhythm section that seems to be mostly computer generated. Normally, I’d find the technology distracting, but here it fits. Bertei’s vocals reminded me of every Bollywood film song I’ve heard. “Something in my bloodstream/ makes me move my feet” Grenas tells us. Indeed. I was up and shaking it all over my apartment.

There is something on this CD for everyone. Its dynamic, focused and an excellent amalgamation of the style and influences of the three band members. I say check it out.

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Artificial Sound for the Artificial World: Phantascope--The Anubian Lights

Still more noir than you are.