Mushroom Compared To What CD

Buried within the album notes to Compared to What is a slice of revealing information about Mushroom leader Patrick O'Hearn's musical orientation. "Credit must be given," he states, to Wolfgang Dauner and Big Fun. The former is an experimental German composer with a similar disregard for music's dividing lines, the latter, one of Miles Davis' seminal fusion albums from 1974. Though the members of the Mushroom collective have been continually pegged as space rockers, the band's sound is in fact an amalgam of sonic substances that also defies easy classification. These eight songs reside at the blurred edges of psychedelic rock, muscular funk, electric jazz, musique concrete, and void-like ambiance. Conceived as a pre-release taster of the band's Foxy Music album, O'Hearn handed tapes of fresh material over to Fuck guitarist Kyle Statham, Directions in Music/Pullman member Bundy K. Brown, and Faust's Hans Joachim Irmler, among others. The resulting remixes are designed for those who don't need their music delivered in easily digestible portions. Yet, even though the compositions have a tendency to veer into the muddle, there are also some surprisingly lucid moments. The title track is the gem of the set: an inspired take on the 1969 Les McCann/Eddie Harris hit. The song features a fiery vocal from guest Gary Floyd (Sister Double Happiness, Black Kali Ma) and squelching cornet from Beck sideman Jon Birdsong. Brown's 20-minute version of "Americans Own the Moon," on the other hand, will surely divide listener's through its sheer, side-spanning size. Not an official album release (though it clocks in at nearly 70 minutes), this is hardly gap-filler either. Though it may win the group few converts, Compared to What is of definite interest to fans. ~ Nathan Bush

Following on the heels of "Foxy Music" is Mushroom's "Compared To What" CD.

The title track is a wild howling cover version of the groovy Les McCann/Eddie Harris classic - featuring vocalist Gary Floyd. (the twisted social commentary lyrics are as topical now, as they were in 1969!).

There's several extended remixes of songs from Foxy Music by the likes of Krautrock legends Faust, Bundy K. Brown of Tortoise and others. (don't worry, they're not Dance mixes,they're psychedelic soundscapes and funky grooves), as well as new material and lastly there's a hidden live track that captures Mushroom in all of their on-stage glory, this time with a late 60's jamming Santana vibe..........maverick trumpeter Jon Birdsong (Beck, Calexico, Beth Orton)is featured on several cuts.

Contains 7 tracks.

Personnel: Nathalie, Anne, Kyle Statham (vocals, keyboards, percussion); Gary Floyd, Alison Faith Levy (vocals); Erik Pearson (guitar, violin, saxophone); Tim Plowman (guitar, sampler); Josh Pollock (guitar); Jay Radford (oud, saz); Marc Capelle (trumpet); Jon Birdsong (cornet); Carroll Ashby (trombone); Michael Bluestein (piano, organ, keyboards); Michael Holt (Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, Oberheim synthesizer); Graham Connah (keyboards); Patrick O'Hearn (drums, bongos, shaker, percussion); Quintus Kannegiesser (bongos, shaker); Dave Mihaly (percussion).

Audio Mixers: Quintus Kannegiesser; Patrick O'Hearn .

Audio Remixers: Quintus Kannegiesser; Kyle Statham; Hans Joachim Irmler; Bundy K. Brown.

Recording information: Black Eyed Pig (05/10/2000); Komotion (05/10/2000); The Tongue & Groove, San Francisco, CA (05/10/2000).

Director: Patrick O'Hearn .

Editors: Patrick O'Hearn ; Rick Wilson.

Personnel includes: Gary Floyd (vocals); Jon Birdson (trumpet).

Muzik (3/01, p.93) - 4 out of 5 - "...Moving through Beefheartian blues to motorik pile-ups to Eno-style ambience....really nice..."