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Mike Kandel's self-described "Insatiably Eclectic Hippy Freeform Freakout Band" can be summed up as '90s gear--'60s attitude. Few electronic producers have been so successful in capturing Summer of Love vibes without the obligatory latter-day aftertaste of cynicism. LET THE FREAK FLAG FLY, saturated with unabashed peace, love, understanding, and the distinct floral bouquet of patchouli, waves Tranquility Bass's freak flag proudly.
FREAK FLAG is grounded soundly in beat-oriented electronica, but Kandel's production bag overflows with unorthodox tricks. Vocals and guitars are plentiful--acoustic, for that authentic campfire-folkie feel on "Soldier's Sweet Heart" (Gene Autry does the protest thing) and the fiddle-streaked "Lichen Me to Wyomin'" (Gene Autry does Gene Autry--with a sampler); electric, for the MAGGOT BRAIN-ed psycho-delic chops that accent "5 Miles High" and the 'tude-heavy "Never Gonna End." Kandel's style-hopping pop accents range from horn-toasted Cal-Mex Latinisms, retro-funked-up Haight-Ashbury strut, and the epic British prog-edelia of the title track to the delightful "La La La" (Joni Mitchell sings pygmy love-songs of Nairobi?) And the lyrics on the super-freaky "The Bird" could have been lifted from a Heaven's Gate hymnal. If you prefer your BPM with a reassuringly human spin, Tranquility Bass could be just the trip.
Engineers include: Tom Carlisle, Critter, Jamie Duffy.
Personnel: Michael Kandel (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, harpsichord, Clavinet, Wurlitzer organ, upright bass, electric bass, programming); Xion Cooper (fiddle); Phil Western (drums, bongos, agogo, cymbals, tumba); Matt Fusello (congas, talking drum, finger cymbals, shaker).
Additional personnel: Tom Brainard (spoken vocals); Tom Schmitz (guitar); Xion Cooper (fiddle); Brian Rapp (trumpet); J. Paul Redman (trombone); Phil Western (drums, bongos, agogo, tumba); Matt Fusello (talking drum, finger cymbals, congas, shaker).
Trip-Hop
Rolling Stone (5/1/97, pp.52-53) - 3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "...a rainbow of styles--Haight-Ashbury psychedelia, tragic folk, bombed-out country, international pop--from the viewpoint of an underground-club music maven behind an 80-track recording console..." Melody Maker (12/6/97, p.43) - "...Tranquility Bass are bringing all the spiritual and emotional qualities championed by the E generation and breathing it into the music. This ain't about repetition, blips, blurps or gushing vocals...there's a rock solid inclination for the song here, 'rock' being the operative word."
Tranquility Bass SUXX This is the worst band I've ever seen. The only good thing about it was that he ripped off Steve Reich music to throw into his mix. He really didn't add anything to it. Submitted by Brian (washington, dc) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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