When I first read the title Drums of Death, I imagined a soundtrack from an Apache western or a classic Tarzan of the Jungle movie. Fo' real, and in a manner of listening and speaking, it has the intensity of a chase across the non-fruity plains on horseback, or a swing through the jungle of rhythms that only a collaboration between DJ Spooky (that Subliminal Kid) & Dave Lombardo (of Slayer fame) could produce. Indeed, Drums of Death [Thirsty Ear THI 57161.2] brings it with the anticipation of like, "uh oh – the natives ARE restless..."
This often Bambaattaa-like funk and roll with a pinch of Big Daddy Kane and heavy metal percussion suddenly launches you oft into space for a preview of what music fifty years hence might ordinarily be like on "rhythm" radio formats. Rockheads and funkheads alike... we've got somethin' for yoouu here! Head-boppingly good stuff track after track, Jack! Whodini-ish at times, and with Chuck D of Public Enemy using the vocoder at times, this warp frenzy is bombastic and not for the musically shy or timid. Lombardo is the mortar between the bricks on this fifty-three minute mercurial music meld.
I must admit that it took me a few listens to absorb the initial album-shock; more a function of the fact that I listen to so many different genres on the regular, than anything inferior this CD has done. If anything, it is a refreshing wake-up call like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is to the socio-political landscape.
DJ Spooky, whose secret identity is Paul D. Miller, produced this super hero-ish concoction; no worries, it is deliriously raw and listenable simultaneously! It is "spooky" as in the awesome ambient cake mix of Hip-Hop, Techno and strident Rock.
Press "play" and you are transformed; strolling down a black light neon-lit catwalk into the unknown club, when suddenly, yet as you might have imagined it, you are hit with in-your-face jamming and Chuck D's mothafreaking vocalizations, "Two- thousand five, y'all bounce to this!" he chides; you are about to receive the "Universal Time Signal."
I feel this progressive music, which takes me back to a gig I covered in 1994 called "the Black Rock Coalition" at CBGB's. It featured many bands that defied categorization and several skilled drummers.
Vernon Reid rails on guitar in a Clapton-Hendrix style at times on the frenzied track three, "Quantum Cyborg Drum Machine." My fave cut is the rasta-funk "Metatron," track five. Just the name of it evokes a strong mental sci-fi image. On track six, Assisted Suicide, the beat is scandalous! Spooky is true to his game of, "Keeping [his] mental core humble."
The next one, "Kultur-Kieg," whatever that means, is pure metal rock that does not distract from the album's theme; yo', mega-crazy drumming rocks all ears.This may be one of the ultramixes of genres: metal rock, reggae with even a touch of Jazz. As Spooky says, "that's what this project is all about: rhythm dialog, building bridges between scenes and styles."
On "A Darker Side of Bleak" (track eleven), you hear that attempt to bridge the Jazz gap. With its omnipresent drummer solo, is a little Billy without the Cobham; more the "club", tightfisted quickness, but spastically delicious nonetheless. By track fifteen, the "Obscure Disorder" is mellower but not soft and our superhero spacewalks his way untethered. It grows on you, instrumentally-yours. I appreciate Dave's soloing work like a fellow drummer would, on the final track of the disc, "Particle Storm (from Sci-Fi Sound Effects #!)" as well – please marvel at the comic action, dear reader.
As experienced repeatedly, this album is oft like the neighborhood band jamming in the backyard garage down the block – you could always hear the drummer! It defies subsume while encouraging the party. You'll dig the cover art as well – so futuristic! This is a welcome addition to my CD crates full of new joints, and hopefully will be the same for yours. In other words, if arid are your ears, immerse them in this album that's easy to hear.
Check da websites www.djspooky.com and www.davelomardo.com, and others listed on the cover. So please now, let's give the drumma some, Heh! Five fearsome stars.
