EMMIE Magazine Spring 2012

Page 53

the clearing 7500

The bowerbird is an ?5,!*)0+)%;#>0)<@;# medium-sized bird of the Ptilonorhynchidae family genre…It is also the name of an indie-american folk band from North Carolina. Surprisingly, the band’s 2+!!+%8#)00S"/(*S!'(S60)<(# music mimics that of a <"%75,(&#>+*&;#)#>"-(*>+*&#.)K>(Z#='(#>)%&;#"7#!'*((#/(*K# !)0(%!(&#/"<)0#)%&#+%,!*5.(%!)0#.5,+<+)%,#*(0(),(&#+!,#7"5*!'# album, The Clearing early this March. U"5#(+!'(*#0"/(#"*#)*(#/(*K#<"%75,(&#>K#!'+,#)0>5.9#

U"5#0"/(#+!#>(<)5,(#D'+00+6#L""*(I,;#M(!'#=)<50)*I,;#)%&#L)!!# A).*"%I,#/"+<(,#)*(#,""!'+%8#0+@(#)#&)K#>K#!'(#0)@(9#X+@(# <').6+"%#,')*(*,;#()<'#M"-(*>+*&,#.(.>(*#,+%8,#0()&#/"<)0,9# The musicians create a close-your-eyes and sway-your-headto-the-music sound, suitable for long car rides or en-route to <0),,9#='(#<)!<'K#>()!,;#')*."%+"5,#.(0"&+(,;#)%&#75%#/+"0+%S 85+!)*#<".>+%)!+"%,#)*(#,56(*#)005*+%8#!"#8+/(#!'(#7"00"-+%8# track a listen. You are confused by this album, simply because I am. Maybe it is my own lack of musical genius that causes me to get lost in The Clearing songs’ complexity, or maybe the band couldn’t agree on one rhythm or key to play in throughout each song. G(8)*&0(,,;#H#).#<"%75,(&9#G'K!'.+<#)%&#.(0"&+<#/)*+)!+"%#

within each song is discouraging )!#!+.(,9#?!#$*,!;#H#8*""/(#-+!'#!'(# music for a solid thirty seconds of each song, then I lose interest when I can’t determine when to ,%)6#.K#$%8(*,#!"#!'(#>()!g#='+,#+,#%"#<*+!+<+,.#"7#='(#C0()*+%8# ,"%8,I#.5,+<)0#+%8*(&+(%!,9#W*()!#,"5%&;#/"<)0,;#.(0"&+(,# )*(#)00#!'(*(9#='(#)0>5.I,#5%7"*!5%)!(#&"-%7)00#)**+/(,#-+!'#!'(# "/(*S.(*8+%8h.+N+%8h,K%!'(,+]+%8#"7#!'(#.5,+<)0#(0(.(%!,9#=""# many cooks ruin the stew. If Bowerbird’s The Clearing were a <"00(8(#(,,)K;#+!#-"50&#*(<(+/(#)#M|#7"*#).)]+%8#/"<)>50)*K# and correct grammar. Points are deducted for unfortunately horrible and confusing structure. W+/(%#!')!;#H#).#'K6"<*+!+<)0#>(<)5,(#H#,!+00#0+,!(%#!"#='(# Clearing and am hooked on Bowerbirds’ perplexing style. Hey, I like being confused. molly TREROTOLA

jumpin’ jack flash 6750 When Kingston Rocker &*5..(*#D(!(#B"'%,!"%# handed this EP to me, I could !(00#>K#!'(#$*,!#8)](#!')!# this album would be worth listening to. The album insert itself looked to be of higher 45)0+!K#!')%#.",!#0"<)0#>)%&,#-"50&#<"%,+&(*#)660K+%89#?# &(!)+0#0+@(#!'+,#.)K#,((.#)(,!'(!+<#!"#.",!3#+!#)0,"#*(6*(,(%!,# the considerable amount of time and thought spent writing, recording, engineering and producing this extended play album. I gladly stuffed it in my pocket eagerly waiting the listening. ='(#B5.6+%I#B)<@#V0),'#1D#<"%,+,!,#"7#!-"#/(*,+"%,#"7#,"%8,# +%#!-"#,(!,9#='(#$*,!#/(*,+"%#"7#()<'#,"%8#+,#<".6*+,(&#"7# an upbeat traditional style of reggae fused with elements of "!'(*#.5,+<)0#8(%*(,O#,"50;#*"<@#)%&#'+6#'"69#='(,(#$*,!#!-"# ,"%8,#*(/()0#!'(#8*"56,I#.5,+<)0#&+/(*,+!K#>K#!'(#<".60(!(# 6"0)*#45)0+!+(,#"7#*(88)(#+%25(%<(#>(!-((%#!'(.9#?!#$*,!#0+,!(%;# EB5.6+%I#B)<@#V0),'i#+,#)0.",!#+%&+,<(*%+>0(#!"#)%#5%!*)+%(&# ear before the singing sets in. The leading horns and backing 85+!)*#"77(*#)#%"/(0#)66*")<'#!')!#*(2(<!,#!'(#5%&(*0+%+%8# reggae theme, yet yields into the same rocking Rolling Stones *+77,#!')!#-(#)00#@%"-#)%&#0"/(9#p%&"5>!(&0K#!'(#)&&+!+"%#"7# >)<@+%8#/"<)0,#>K#T+<"0(#:)!(*,#<*()!(,#)#%(-#0(/(0#"7#,"50750# release that highlights the genre-fusion elements of the band. ?&&+%8#!"#!'(#E,"50S(77(<!i;#!'(#'"*%#,(<!+"%#>0),!,#-+!'#!'(# '+8'0+8'!#0()&#,)N#,"0"9#='+,#<"/(*#"7#EB5.6+%I#B)<@#V0),'i#+,# !'(#(6+!".(#"7#-')!#<"/(*,#,'"50&#>(;#)#<*()!+/(#(N!(%,+"%#"7# the original that still rocks as hard.

The second song is an original that brings elements of hip-hop into a more modern style of reggae. “King Soun” slowly >(8+%,#5%/(+0+%8# the transformation in sound taking place throughout the EP. Certainly those inhaling some smoke feel the changes setting in. Nothing will stop your mind from slipping into this psychedelic realm of delayed effects now. The horn section departs making way for the wail of the organ and ska-style guitar strums. Guest *'K.(,)K(*#B"*&)%#=)88)*!#,6+!,#!'(#0()&#/"N#+%#)#>0)<@#)%&# -'+!(#<"%!*),!#!"#!'(#$*,!#!*)<@9#1/(%#!'"58'#!'(#&K%).+<#"7# !'+,#,"%8#<".60(!(0K#<')%8(&#7*".#!'(#$*,!;#!'+,#!*)<@#@(6!#.K# '()&#>">>+%I#)%&#-()/+%I#!'(#,).(9# ='(#7"00"-+%8#!-"#*(.+N(,#"7#!'(#6*+"*#!-"#,"%8,#*(/()0#+!#)009# ='(,(#,"%8,#(%&5*(&#)#<".60(!(#!*)%,7"*.)!+"%#+%!"#&5>3#)# <*()!+"%#-'(*(#7(-#L)&+,"%#>)%&,#')/(#/(%!5*(&#"*#&)>>0(&9# Kingtown Rockers come full circle with their collaboration of electronic mixery and sample looping. This time, just sit back )%&#0(!#!'(#-)/(,#2"-#+%9#='(#(%,5+%8#,K%!'(,+](*,#650,)!(# through transient cycles of crescendo peaks and echoing *(.+%&(*,#"7#/"<)0#,).60(,9#='(#,!()&K#>)<@>()!#+,#0)+&# &"-%#+%#!+8'!#6*(<+,+"%#"7#!'(#0"-S#(%&#>),,#8*""/(#.+N(&# with strategically placed high-hat barrages and the boom of !'(#@+<@9#?7!(*#!'(,(#!-"#&5>#.+N(,;#.K#.+%&#+,#%5.>#-+!'# 8*)!+$<)!+"%9## Kingtown Rockers occasionally play around Madison at places like the Crystal Corner and High Noon Saloon where "%(#<"50&#(),+0K#)<45+*(#)#<"6K#"7#!'+,#CA9#H#-"50&;#-+!'"5!#)# doubt, recommend taking a step back from the stranglehold "7#M)>K0"%;#)%&#8"#"5!#7"*#)%#(/(#)%&#+%&508(#K"5*,(07#-+!'#)# dosing of “dis rasta riddim” and pick up a copy of this EP. mike ANDREWSKI

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