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This slightly enigmatic band (neither the CD nor their myspace actually tell us the names of these five musicians*) transported themselves from Kansas all the way to Portland OR in the last year... which makes sense since this is a band that makes you want to move. Some of the songs make you want to dance, if you see them live you find yourself drawn to the stage and, if you're listening to "Bugs and Daymares" all by your lonesome late at night, it may make you twitch with unease.
The ensemble mixes blood-thirsty folk and dive-bar cabaret with a jazzy-quirkiness that refuses to be pinned down. The album opens and closes with quiet, short pieces ("Hannibals' Lecture" first, "The Great Division" last) that feature Jake (almost) solo. Between these two a lot of ground is covered: the gypsy freak-out of "Berzerka Mazurka", the ode-to-an-asshole gospel of "Give It a Rest", the ghost ballad blues of "Annie McGee"... but the ground they tread is covered in liquor and blood. Death and entrails litter this recording. But it never comes across as a downer.
Perhaps it's the sense of ease with each other that the band projects. There's a jam-band like freedom here, but the music is never aimless. That freedom comes from their confidence in each other, like any great band they know that they are their musically for each other. This gives them the guts to add to their skill as they travel such expansive musical territory. In any other gypsy/cabaret band Chris' Neil-Young-in-Crazy-Horse guitar would seem out of place, but not with his compatriots. His guitar is a clever foil to Jake's vocal work. Jake's voice is a strange animal, it wavers and oscillates as if he is barely in control it... almost like he's possessed. It's so refreshing to hear an dark cabaret band whose lead singer *isn't* just following in the footsteps of Tom Waits.
But the talents of the band make this all work. The solid foundation allows the distinctness of the vocals to both shine and jar, to draw you in and keep you on your toes... all the better to get you moving.
*Though a little bird tells me they are:
Jason Grant: Bass
Jake Kersely: Guitar, Vocals
Stephanie Kersely: Mandolin, Piano
Marshal Louk: Drums
Chris Tady: Guitar
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Sterilize Stereo:
http://www.myspace.com/sterilizestereo
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