• Sebast my pole reviews JEN IFER BRAATEN Douo VARONE asst. features editor , the founder of 3 AND DANCERS and , -BALLET MicANIQ.UE- is taking his first go at solo 0 life with his highly antici- pated album, Sebastopol. Both of his previous bands found < great succ.ess creating coun- -· try I folk inspired rock. In Ct> Sebastopol, Farrar steps away from his bandmates to focus on creating his own work. The music on Sebastopol departs somewhat from the styles of Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo, however, the talent I and the voice are still very much Jay Farrar. Like Son FILErttorn Volt's and Uncle Tupelo's Production Editor Grant Toups or musician albums, Farrar's project varies Jay Farrar? You decide. from rock-influenced songs, such album with songs like "Voodoo as the single "Voodoo Candle," Candle.". to more twangy, country-ish Although Farrar is a better tunes such as "Barstow." Unlike songwriter than most artists on the more electric guitar based the radio, it is doubtful that main- songs of Son Volt and UncLe stream radio will play songs off " A company of daredevils, profoundly human Tupelo, Farrar focuses more on Sebastopol, with the possible super humans who dance on a dime- wheeling, the acoustic guitar and is more exception of "Voodoo Candle." liberal with new instrumenta- This is unfortunate because radio darting, and slicing the air at lethal tion in his solo effort. Everything could really use more music like looking speeds." -Th• New Yori< Times from bells, to Wah petals, to a Farrar's, that is inspired rather saxophone can be heard on than contrived. Moving across the stage in a whirlwind of spins, tumbles. Se bas to pol. leaps. ifts ana a'fT-.ost reckless physicality: Varone s cancers are muc • Farrar's latest album show- mere than ,us: v.sua ly spec+..acuiar: They blend muscle Nrt:h exqu1Stte, cases his excellent song-writing lynca movemert that probes the very hea;t o- hu!""\ar ernot·or.s. abilities. One of the great things about Farrar is that he can write good mellow songs such as "Drain" and put them on an Ballet Mecanique Brnging together dance of ;ntense Wiremnky gives Fresh ･ ｬ ･ ｾ ｴ ｲ ｯ ｮ ｩ ｣ ｡ ph)'Sicality with a quirky 1920s score for player p;anos. a·rplane propeller electnc bel and assorted percussion, lzzy BETANCOURT and creates a friendly ambience. B.'.J/let Mec11liq.J<" features giant scenic projections by The names of the songs seem designer V/endaJI K. Harnngton. Best knovvn for her award contributing writer winring des,gns for the Broadway productions of Rcg;.ime derived from nowhere, since ｡ ｾ ､ The Vv'ho s Tommy, Hamngton s mov•ng ;magery bnngs For a DJ nobody's ever heard the songs contain few notice- a he;ghtened sense of sur·pnse. even a magical edge to the of, Wiremnky shows obvious able riffs or tunes. The highlight evening. talent on his latest album, enti- of the album is a track entitled tled Fresh Cold Cuts: The Deli- "Airport," a song that has very "Varone's world is fascinating." - The Village Voice catessen Remixes. The album con- interesting vocals mixed with sists of remixes from the 1996 an upbeat tempo and catchy album Delicatessen and features sounds. Not many people lis- techno beats along with a ten to this type of chill electronic woman's voice experimenting music, but for a relaxing day at with sounds and singing home or for study music, it is throughout it. The voice of the definitely recommended. . woman heard in nearly every track is actually a nice contrast to the accompanying electron- ic sounds, which don't offer very much excitement on their own. Nothing on the album is very hardcore; it's easy listen- ing techno - background music, so to speak. Nonetheless, the music comes across as soothing . i:evtews