Monkey3 (2003)
8
Last Gamuzao / Bimbo / Electric Mistress / Chillao / 35007 / Narcotic
Jam / Darkman's Nose / Boris Nuts / Lividity
"Switzerland"
and "rock 'n' roll" somehow don't seem to belong in one and the same sentence.
I must admit I know next to nothing about Swiss music (or anything else from
that country, except for chocolate perhaps) and on top of that, I couldn't
care much less about the few bands I've actually heard of (Krokus, Celtic
Frost, the Young Gods). Thanks to Monkey3, this might be changing. Even though
they're basically a trio (unless you also count Mister Malpropre, a guy handling
"samples and keyboards") and an instrumental one at that, they managed
to convince me they're a force to be reckoned with in the future. It's not
that their semi-isolation in the heart of Europe forced them to develop a
new musical language, yet they concocted a blend of classic rock, space-rock,
stoner and heavy psych that's particularly refreshing. These nine songs (eight
originals and the Melvins' "Lividity") might be challenging if you're used
to the traditional rock vocabulary, but to my ears they immediately came off
as fully realized works by a band that knows how to play and compose. Take
the 8-minute "Last Gamuzao,' for instance. While you might consider it another
two-parted drone, the band masterfully employs dynamics that warrant comparisons
to other instrumental acts such as Karma to Burn (the groove), the mighty
Pelican (the deceiving shifts and melodies beneath a surface of sheer heaviness)
and the far-outness of Italian doom-mongers Ufomammut, yet manages to conjure
up an entirely personal sound. The first part takes its time to develop, combines
bottom-heavy near-sludge with spacey effects and ends when the incessant beats
shift into the more atmospheric second part that charms you into a trance
until you reach the grand and heavy final that is it's logical conclusion.
None of the next tracks impressed me as much as this stellar slab of psycostoner
(as the band calls it), but the remainder of the band's originals don't disappoint.
"Bimbo" does a good job of merging metal riffs with post-rock's refusal to
become transparent and ends up being a modernized version of the unlikely
merger of Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd (something you might also apply to
"Darkman's Nose"), the simple-structures and satisfying dark drones of "Electric
Mistress" and "35007" (yes, that's a reference to the Dutch band) are much
more exciting than most similar bands could ever hope to be, while "Chillao"
is a drugged space-jam from the Hawkwind-school of psychedelic heaviness.
Two tracks manage to stand out, and for different reasons: "Narcotic Jam"
nearly gets a Santana-esque vibe because of its subtly exotic percussion,
funky bass-line and stretched notes and yes, it is as good as it sound,
but their cover of the Melvins' "Lividity" is needlessly stretched out and
a 13-minute test in atmospheric endurance. Luckily, it's the only blemish
on an otherwise terrific album that once again confirms the Anglophile countries
aren't the only places where it's at. Whether the record industry will react
appropriate measures to compensate for this (or at least try to partially
restore the ridiculous imbalance) is unlikely, but if it's worth anything,
I'll gladly repeat that Monkey3 (that's Boris on guitar, Picasso on bass and
Walter in drums) unleashed an excellent soundtrack to your next trip to the
moon. Not bad for a few guys from Lausanne.
Note: Initially only 1000 copies were pressed, but Belgian label Buzzville re-released the album in 2004. Yay.
Read album reviews of similar or related artists: Kyuss