| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ten Percenter |
Posted - 10/29/2004 : 03:25:00
http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/2004-3/issue7/ar-seedy.html
Frank Black
Frank Black Francis
Spin Art
In the wake of the Pixies' reunion and subsequent stomp across North America, we are treated to a two-disc set of songs performed solo by Frank Black. Or Black Francis. Charles Thompson? Take your pick of his name, the Pixies front man brings us back almost 20 years on the first disc, which was recorded just before the Pixies' first EP, Come On Pilgrim. These recordings, originally intended to be audio notes for the real sessions later that week, excel in their simplicity, with only an acoustic guitar and Black's voice to be heard. While the simpler arrangements are in themselves worth your time, the clincher is Black scatting the bass parts over top, or yelling "and the drums go like this: chk chk chk CHK CHK, with the sticks, y'know?" It's proof that while the Pixies sound casual in their recordings, there's a definite work ethic behind it.
For a change of pace, the second disc is a series of 13 vintage Pixies songs re-recorded by Black in 2003, and produced by two pale boys who call themselves "Two Pale Boys." They've stretched and slowed down the indie-rock standards into psychedelic audio acid trips, fully loaded with bleary horn lines and warp effects. I imagine this is exactly the music you would hear in the elevator up to heaven.
With some songs completely unrecognisable from the originals - the two-minute "Planet of Sound" now stretches to nearly 15 - this newfound (and, honestly, probably unnecessary) tinkering will definitely piss off any Surfer Rosa or Doolittle purists, but I get the feeling that that's exactly the point.
- Mike Hingston
"Fried food, cigarettes, no exercise, chest pain..." (Excerpt from the Angina Monologues) |
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