Rose
for Bohdan
"Decoration Monster" 2CD
Deathbomb
Arc Imvated
Recorrds / BBPTC / Cephia's
Treat / Nothing
Gets Worse Than This
Genres: DIY, experimental, avant rock
BBPTC
PO Box 1476
Frazier Park CA
93225 USA
Sep 15 - 21 2003 |
As
time goes on and their rapidly increasing discography gets distributed
to more and more markets, Rose For Bohdan are slowly getting closer to
achieving their ultimate goal: a message in their Hotmail inbox from
New Order complaining about the title of their first album. But until
then they'll just have to settle with regularly putting out their
absolutely terrific brand of electro-indie-punk-avant-rock. Don't
worry, I won't complain.
Decoration Monster is the latest chapter in their ever-growing
legacy, and it's a doozy. Two discs comprise the release - one is
original material, the other is mostly remixes and other assorted
stuff. As usual, R4B (dig the abbreviation) is an acquired taste but
one that can be incredibly satisfying to the right audience. They have
an amazingly broad talent, and their music reflects it. They're never
content to stick with one genre, but rather do as many as possible
without ever compromising quality. My favourite part of the album is
undoubtedly "Dinosaur Demon Across The World" and the two
remixes of it. It starts off with a bizarre sample of someone's
younger brother whining annoyingly and turns into an equally bizarre pop
number. It's intentionally weird and yet bizarrely melodic. Their lo-fi
noise rock tribute to mid-90s dance melodies, "Still a Favorite
Among Prom Queens," is another high point; it is fun, funny, and
really, really good. And it will make you climax. Figuratively
speaking. Other bits of experimental sound architecture, beats, and
plain absurdity are also present on the album, in all their glory.
The remixes are even more interesting. He likes of
short-attention-span noise outfit Cock ESP, wacky Captain
Ahab, and
long time R4B pal Books on Tape hash and smash tunes from the first
disc [and elsewhere] in a variety of ways. There's lots of interesting
stuff being done, and it is just as engaging as a regular album. It
ain't your regular "Remixes For Cash" sensibility that is
evident on most remix albums.
Music fans who want a taste of the avant-underground will cry if
they miss the chance to buy this album only to later hear how good it
is in their neighbour's son's basement. Nobody can figure out how they
do it, or what "it" is, but Rose For Bohdan have mastered it
and that's enough for me.
87%
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 21 tracks, distributed by Deathbomb
Arc, released 2003] |