The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 14, 1994 - 11

4RECORDS
Continued from page 10
likeR&B ("I Believe"), urban contem-
porary ("Everything is Gonna be
Alright") and, of course, rap ("The
Drum").
There is not a dull moment in this
CD. The thirty members and 10-piece
#chstra of Sounds of Blackness have
made sure of that. But, "Africa to
America" does more than just enter-
tain; it teaches.
Gary Hines, the group's longtime
musical director, feels that this CD
allov the listener to learn about Afri-
can Od African American history and
culture through the use of music. In this
waystereotypes may give way to le-
itimate portrayals of "the full extent
(Blacks') contributions, muscially
and otherwise, to world culture." "Af-
rica to America" does this well.
Take my advise and get this CD. It
is more than a great collection of mu-
sic; it is a collection of Black philoso-
phy. No need to thank me. Just thank
God for the Sounds of Blackness.
- Eugene Bowen

Orb
Pomme Fritz
Island
Just when you thought you had
these guys pegged, The Orb go and
release a truly eccentric six-track al-
bum that works completely in the op-
posite direction of their last two re-
leases. Where "Live 93" highlighted
their talents for sample-driven atmo-
spheric improvisations and "U. F. Orb"
steered closer to straightforward atmo-
spheric techno, "Pomme Fritz" defies
both of these categories.
Most of "Pomme Fritz" has an im-
provisational, chaotic feel to it, com-
posed of a miasma of dub basslines,
unfamiliar clicking noises in place of
beats, soft guitar textures, and, of course,
truly bizarre samples often warped by
even more bizarre filters and effects.
Strangely, though, Dr. Alex Paterson
and company seem fully in control
every second, knowing just when to
send arhythm careening off into a feast
of delays and reverbs, much like their
previous work.
However, "Pomme Fritz" is by far
the Orb's most difficult album to date.
The opening tracks, "Pomme Fritz

(Meat 'N Veg)" and "More Gills Less
Fishcakes" have a soothing ambiance
that becomes easy to melt into after
several listens, but "We're Pastie To
Be Grill You" (?) goes a bit overboard
with it's drugged-out Mickey Mouse
affected samples, and lacks any clear
reference point.
Like alot of difficultrecords, how-
ever, "Pomme Fritz" is structured in
such a way that you can't help but pick
up something new on each listening,
and every time, the experience becomes
more rewarding. "Pomme Fritz" may
be a departure for The Orb, but it cer-
tainly highlights the depth of their tal-
ents.
-- Andy Dolan
Afro-Plane
Afro-Plane
Kaper Records
Workin' that bass and goin' back ta
that old-school funk mixed with just a
pinch of that psychadelic sixties sound,
Afro-Plane does a better-than-medio-
cre-but-nothing-super-spectacular job
of producing a nice 14-cut CD.
At just over two minutes, "Intro" is
the longest intro I've ever heard. But,
it's a great two minutes. "Daisy's Mis-
sion" is probably the first non-jazz
song featuring a bass guitar that I like.
"Ghetto Blast Interlude" is an inter-
esting song which defines Afro-Plane's
version of "hardcore rap." I doubt they
will radically change the world of
gangsta rap, but the songs are nice.
One drawback of "Afro-Plane" is
that it has little flow. It's cuts jump
from one type of sound to another.
Also, there are a couple of songs that
makes the group sound like it was
possessed by theDevil. Ifanyone knows
what in the hell "Colorbox Connec-
tion" is about, please give me a call.
Should you buy this CD? If you're
an adventurous person, then you don't
have much to lose (except maybe 15
bucks).
-Eugene Bowen
Anotha Level
On Anotha Level
Priority Records
Anotha Level, a five-man rap team,
has hit the scene with their debut al-
bum, and it's got it goin' on. These
guys, who sound like a laid-back ver-
sion of their homies, the hyperactive
members of Pharcyde, definitely rap

AFTER THE FALL ...

One of the greatest (and oldest) British punk bands, The Fall, is gracing the Blind Pig with their presence and
irreverence. Their career has been long and checkered, with band members and record releases to numerous to
recount here. But their latest, "Middle Class Revolt," is a quintessential Fall album, with weird song titles like "Hey!
Student," "The $500 Bottle of Wine," and "M5#1" and plenty of bizarre tape loops and sounds amongst the tart
guitar work and garbled vocals of Mark E. Smith, god to the likes of such as Steven Malkmus (Pavement) and Frank
Black. Smith is really at the heart of the band-sort of a cross between Johnny Rotten and comic-strip hero Andy
Capp: an angry, bitter, witty man from Manchester whose cryptic thoughts and ideas form The Fall's direction. The
band's gigs are usually exciting and chaotic; there are already rumors of onstage brawls between members of the
band on the English leg of their current tour. And all this excitement will be coming to the Pig on Wednsday, with
doors opening at 9:30 pm. The wonderful, Georgia-based Magnapop (whose album "Hot Boxing" is great and
produced by the legendary Bob Mould) start the show off right. $10 in advance seems like chump change for a
show filled with such new and old talent. Just see it!

well together. What's more, they
acturally write their own lyrics (yeah,
really!).
"Let Me Take You" introduces the
listener to each member's individual
rapping style, and throughout the rest
fo "On Anotha Level," these brothas
are true to their name. Ice Cube raps
with these guys in "Level-N-Service,"
and the album also "pheatures" the
crazy sounds of da Pharcyde ("Phat-
T").
Da boyz of Anotha Level have
vowed to raise rap hip hop out of its
current rut. "On AnothaLevel" doesn't
quite deliver, but it ain't a bad try.
Given time and a little more experience
who knows? These guys are a fresh
change from the rap-as-usual CD's
currently bombarding the musical
world. All hail Anotha Level.
- Eugene Bowen

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