After a foray into instrumental improvisation in the modern classical mode (1995's THE GUITAR AS ORCHESTRA), idiosyncratic songwriter and guitar wizard Adrian Belew returned to the pop fold with renewed vigor on OP ZOP TOO WAH. The rocker "Six String" (a love song to his guitar), the Beatles-esque "Beautiful" and the carefree ditty "Something to Do" provide more of the bright, hook-stuffed songcraft that characterized most of Belew's late '80s and early '90s recordings.
But Belew is no average tunesmith. The astonishing range of his technical facility and all-around musicianship, and his fascination with varied sonic textures and dense polyrhythms, can generate savage, tribal trips through the jungle ("Of Bow and Drum") or ethereal, surreal impressions ("Sky Blue Red Bird Green House"). Belew's avant-garde sensibilities are in evidence too, especially on cuts such as "Word Play Drum Beat," which features voice samples over a lone rhythm track, the ethno-surf-boogie of the title cut and the ear-bending big top solo on "High Wire Guitar." Taken together, these accomplished experiments make OP ZOP TOO WAH Belew's most interesting and cohesive pop effort since MR. MUSIC HEAD.
Audio Mixers: Adrian Belew; Ken Latchney.
Photographer: Grant Lovett.
Unknown Contributor Role: Annalee Valencia.
Personnel: Adrain Belew (vocals, various instruments); Martha Belew, Sherry Webb, Iris Belew, Ken Latchney, Stan Hertzman (vocals).
Personnel: Adrian Belew (vocals).
Musician (12/96, pp.89-91) - "...his best overall `pop' album yet....besides the usual winning, Beatles-inflected rockers...and craftily melodic ballads...there are also strong hints of Belew's non-pop output....the bruising riffs of `I Remember How To Forget' recall his work with King Crimson..."
Adrian Belew - Op Zop Too Wah Songs
| 1 | Of Bow and Drum | | | |
| 2 | Word Play Drum Beat | | | |
| 3 | Six String | | | |
| 4 | Conversation Piece | | | |
| 5 | All Her Love Is Mine | | | |
| 6 | I Remember How to Forget See All 4 | | | |
| 7 | What Do You Know?, Pt. 1 | | | |
| 8 | Op Zop Too Wah | | | |
| 9 | Plate of Words | | | |
| 10 | Time Waits See All 2 | | | |
| 11 | What Do You Know?, Pt. 2 | | | |
| 12 | Modern Man Hurricane Blues | | | |
| 13 | In My Backyard | | | |
| 14 | Plate of Guitar | | | |
| 15 | Live in a Tree | | | |
| 16 | Something To Do | | | |
| 17 | Beautiful  | | | |
| 18 | High Wire Guitar | | | |
| 19 | Sky Blue Red Bird Green House | | | |
| 20 | Ruin After the Rain | | | |
| 21 | On | | | |
Op Zop Too Wah Music Review
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