Zeitgeist Reviews -SIX-FING THING, FUN LOVIN' CRIMINALS, AUF DER MAUR, FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE, PSEUDO BUDDHA

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CD OF THE WEEK

SIX-FING THING - Self-Portrait as a Venerable Shrub

You just know that when a Dogfingers CD heads your way, that there is going to be some crazy assed action coming your way. Six-Fing Thing are / is no exception to that rule. The musical outlet for visual artist (nurse - hand me a mime, a juggler and a unicyclist and prepare the fire) James Cobb, this is a sometimes fascinating ride.

Specialising in lengthy, sprawling soundscapes that lurch all over the musical horizon, this is challenging in a crazed freeform jazz style, interpolating clashing sounds and out and out freakery. Pots and pans, anyone?

I would be pointless to pick out tracks as the naming and numbering conventions don't reaaly apply here amid the drone and mabience, but "Wisdom" is a particular highlight to my own personal ears. How you deal with the lack of convention is up to you, but it's never less thaninteresting.

SIX-FING THING

Six-Fing Thing

FUN LOVIN' CRIMINALS

AUF DER MAUR

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE

PSEUDO BUDDHA

Fun Lovin' Criminals - Beautiful

After taking a couple of years out to run a lounge bar and pizzeria, Huey, Fast, and brand new drummer Mark from Leicester returned with "Welcome to Poppy's", which was less than succesful, as they moved their sound on into a comfortable middle age.

"Beautiful" and the live flip side, "Got Our Love" are both middle of the road with "Beautiful" being an out and out love song, "Time has traced its lines on your face / But I think you're beautiful / And I want no other to be my baby's mother / Cause I all I see is beautiful". Overly saccharine, it won't bring back the old fans, and the potential mum audience won't get the chance to hear it.

A shame, as I had retained a fond spot for their mix of hip hop beats and ganster chic.

Auf Der Maur - Followed The Waves

The hottest bass player in rock has finally crawled out of the Hole and released her debut solo record. Having dragged along such high powered friends as Chris Goss and Josh Homme (ex Queens of the Stone Age) and Brandt Bjork (ex Kyuss) it's not surprising that this drawls heavily on their stoner influences.

Big riffs and big playing, combined with the delectable Melissas bresthy vocals, make this a rare treat and one of the best singles of the year so far.

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE - Stacy's Mom

You're a dirty, dirty boy. Finally, here's the US Top 40 hit "Stacy's Mom". Many, many moons ago this graced the charts over there, although they're already onto "Mexican Wine" in the US with the classic opening lines;

He was killed by a cellular phone explosion
They scattered his ashes across the ocean
The water was used to make baby lotion
The wheels of promotion were set into motion.

To be honest, "Stacy's Mom", with it's 'original' new wave origins, isn't much of a song by the Fountains standards (you need the sublime "Sink To The Bottom" for their finest moment), but if the publicity surrounding the video engenders support, then so mote it be. Of course, the kids won't understand the straight cover of the Bacharach and David "classic", "Trains And Boats And Planes", but they will doubtless go for the sub Oasis pub rock riff of "Elevator Up". They have and will do, better.

But as everyone know, I can't resist the judicious use of handclaps in a pop tune.

Pseudo Buddha – 3 Months In Fat City – Hooka-Jooka Vol. IV

Which brings us neatly round to Pseudo Buddha, as a certain James Cobb is also an integral part of said outfit. An intense jamming experience by the sound of it, this live CD was taken from a series of performances, hence the titles - "September 6", "October 4", "November 1" and the quaintly titled "November 14".

This is one (Vol IV) of a series of live sets called "Hooka-Jooka" where they record live and then cut and paste sections together without overdubbing or remixing. Now I don't whether everyone was really quiet but there's nary a hint of audience hubbub to be heard. Which is odd, for their psychedelic jazz blend is very stimulating. There's hints of the greats - Mahavishnu Orchestra, Grateful Dead - but they have their own eastern influenced slant to the whole thing. If you're looking for a particularly good night then "November 14" is the one to zone out to. (9:29)