By Aimee Thomas
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PAGE 12 / THE RETRIEVER MAY 12, 1992 Sammy loves long good-byes! Save the last dance with expert performances on the effects-washed guitar picking patt- art, and above all, sardonic or just (from MUSIC, page 11) fiddle, piano, guitars and other ern which layers brilliant colors and plain silly, masterful wit. for Aimee Thomas instruments. This is pure, tradi- textures with a haunted synth From the media satire of "Wait- percussive tones and rhythms, tional folk song for trippin' 'round expansion. Towards the end of the "real world" just yet. I'm moving ing For The Electrician or Someone to the next level of academic impassioned vocals, group chant- the campfire or fuelin' up at the ol' disc they get into strings of 16th Like Him," to the reality play of ing, and the heavy bass throb of ale house. It even feels green. note, contrapuntal keyboard lines, by Aimee asylum—graduate school. I haven't "I Think We're All Bozos On The learned enough yet (though some- the sintir. The divine spirit of Multi-instrumentalist/ composer much like much of Pinhas' solo Bus," or, from the tale of George existence seems to pulse from its and Englishman Peter Knight, work. Thomas times I don't know if my brain can Tirebiter who sells his soul to the hold any more). Though, I know core. formerly of 70s folk-fusion group And speaking of that, Pinhas' TV in order to cope with living, on Retriever Staff Writer 111 probably be swimming in the sea "Ritual Beating System," from Steeleye Span, steps out on his 1981 "LTithique" (Cuneiform) has "Dont Crush That Dwarf, Hand of debt by the time I'm finished the masterful group Bahia Black, debut solo effort, "An Ancient just be reissued as well. He really Me The Pliers," to the clever stream Editor's Note: Aimee Thomas getting "learned." melds funk, jazz and a massive, Cause" (Shanachie). His sound loves his synthesizers and min- of consciousness raging of "How has covered dance forThe Retriever native Bahian percussion ensemble. flourishes under the influence of imoogs, to say the least. This disc In an ideal world, 111 have earned Can You Be In Two Places At Once for the past two years, while serving the graduate degree which will get Notably, Wayne Shorter, Herbie classical and traditional Celtic and overflows with kind of a jazz rock When You're Not Anywhere At as a production assistant. Hancock and Bernie Worrell aug- English folk music. He's a master fusion, drenched with experimental me that mythical stimulating job All," these word/sound collage-o- with that salary which will enable ment the dense mix with glorious craftsman on the violin, viola, melodies and layers upon layers of grams will slay your senses, and Ah, my farewell article. Geez, me not only to pay back my loans, improv, creating brilliant surges, mandolin and banjo. And when the electronic synthetics, often the stuff leave you babbling with glee on the where do I begin? I'd like to thank the Academy . rather, I would but to be able to eat every day too. and a meaty music and cultural adrenalin rush of improv within of dance music. He even explores floor. Three giant steps beyond like to express my appreciation to But in this "real" world IVe com- alloy. lushly textured songs kicks all the easy listening, sugary, pseudo-jazz Monty Python. And USA-bred as Stepping into the Tanzanian way in, he lets his chops go wild: on a couple of tracks. well. all the people in all the parts of mitted myself to the fact that I will UMBC who have made my stay never have a beach house I can call realm of Africa, Virgin's Real swinging melodies, emotive, folky A brand new disc from one of But if you really want to freak here interesting and meaningful. my own. It's okay, though, cause World Records has just released, flavors, warm and inviting music. the many Erik Lindgren projects is out your friends, get Lucia Pamela's "Mambo," from Remmy Ongala & Another musician/composer Birdsongs of the Mesozoic with That includes my friends, instruc- in between bouts of stress-related- "Into Outer Space" (Arf! Arf!). This stress, I feel pretty good about what Orchestre Super Matimila. This is stirred by the Celtic tradition is "pyroclastics" (Cuneiform). This is has got to be the silliest pile of lard tors and fellow Retriever-ites (you my educational adventures have serious soukous dance music: mul- Loreena McKennitt. On "The Visit" true art rock for the ^Os: a grand I've ever heard on disc. (With the know who you are). I'd like to leave you with some- produced thus far. I'd say I got my tiple, contrapuntal, guitar melodies (Warner Bros.), she puts music to fusion of dementia and thick layers possible exception of maybe East money's worth. But IVe still got flittering about, interlocking, then the words of Shakespeare, Tenny- of scary synths with dashes of jazz, Bay Ray's "Skrapyard," where the thing profound, or at least clever, to remember me by. My parting miles to go before I rest on my disengaging, as solos and harmo- son and traditional Celtic lyrics. pop and world music. Eccentric former Dead Kennedys' guitarist wisdom or something. I'm actually laurels. About 3200 miles actually. nies mesh over a solid groove, Her almost fairy-like, almost melodies drip onto truly tripped- performs Westview Inn lounge finally going to graduate. After six Yep, with an achin' in my heart I'm entirely anchored with reggae bass angelic vocals and dedication to out rhythms where the Phantom of music.) This reissue of a late '60s years and three different majors, leaving UMBC and stadium-city to , lines. Dr. Remmy calls for "one folksong, coupled with the exotic, the Opera meets the Simpsons and recording features the deranged you'd think I'd be gushing, over- seek poverty and enlightenment as J world" of universal love and sitar-like twang of the balalaika, they get down 'til the cows come sensibility of Pamela's rockabilly- flowing with interesting things to a graduate student in California. freedom. makes for an engaging disc. home. echo-smothered voice cawing over Cheb Mami's "Let me Rai" say about my experiences in the Who, me, an idealist (a cliche boogie piano rag-type tunes. This perhaps)? Well, I figure if I made| (Rhythm Safari) employs modern is either meant for kids, or diehard university world of academics and it this far I might have it in me to < synthesizers and a funky horn space cadets. And she says she bureaucracy. But nothing comes continue my pursuit of happiness section to turn his happy, soulful, recorded it on the moon! Yeah, it's immediately to mind (probably R&B reggae songs into a world because it's temporarily blown). and personal growth (whatever that weird. It's almost funny. But it's is) until I can't take it anymore (or dance party. Slick production. something you'll only play for I can tell you one thing IVe I run out of money). So, I'm off On another Rhythm Safari new friends. And then, only for a song learned—and will probably never to seek my fortune or fame or at release, "The Storyteller," by clas- or two. forget, thanks to the demands of least a master's degree. sical/folk guitarist David Hewitt, The moon? Psshaw. Small-mind. college life —and that's my social But before I go, I guess I can the music assumes an exotic, soo- Jazz eccentric Sun Ra alleges he security number. I'm quite sure it thing feel, due to the crafty arran- came from Saturn. And now's your will come in handy when I go to impart to you these thoughts: ' gements of a vast band, which chance to hear for yourself. Evi- apply for a job. Regardless of my question everything, stop at features a huge string section, dence Music is reissuing a huge qualifications otherwise (or lack nothing, and support your local i horns, percussion and synths. batch of his earliest, long out-of- thereof), any employer is bound to artists (and don't drink on a school be impressed by the confidence and Barefoot's latest disc, "Dance of night, unless it's absolutely neces- print material, on CD. And while skill with which I whip out my Life" (Rhythm Safari) continues to some of his compositions on personal tax-ID number; never sary and you don't drive, or forget spread the ever-expanding group's "Super-Sonic Jazz," for instance, even having to consult my wallet to wear a condom). improvisations on the celebration lean toward a somewhat more for that special card. Adios UMBC, and au revoir mes of life, music and dance. Expansive dissonant, swingin' harmonic- But, lucky me, I don't have to enfants (I'd better stop before I cry). arrangements mirror the vastness of collision, his material is not as concern myself with the silly ol' It's been fun but, uh, later on! the earth, changing of the seasons, daring as I was expecting. But we the wind, waters and mountains, have come a long way in musical with a tranquil, lush, harmonic exploration since the time of these balance. A dream state. Various mid-'50s recordings. And it seems instrumental textures are the key to that Sun Ra's masterful invention UMBC heats up for this graceful, exotic sound. lies more in his bold arrangements With a dazzling melding of pop, of the massive Arkestra.