-,.-- ---
Wednesday, July 5, 1995 - The Michigan Daily -1-
CORDS
ontinued from page 11
on this album, which doesn't make it,
ny less solid. Get it, put it on and just let
repeat until you die.
- Ted Watts
J Towa Tei
'uture Listening!
lektra
Techno is having a media extrava-
anza like never before in this country.
hile American artists like Richie
wtin are treated like gods in Europe,
hey've never really received their due
ere. Come to think of it, neither Euro-
ean nor American techno artists have
arnered much mainstream press until
ecently. But now, with the recent, rapid
eleases from such techno stalwarts as
4oby, the Orb and Aphex Twin, techno
sgetting attention beyond its hip follow-
rs. DJ Towa Tei, the spinning genius
ehind the group Deee-Lite, has good
ing for his solo album, what with the
rrent added focus on music created
vith keyboards and samplers rather than
rungy guitars.
Like most solo albums, "Future Lis-
ening!" has plenty of guests, including
Zyiuchi Sakamoto of techno pioneers
Yellow Magic Orchestra, and members
f Pizzicato Five, who are sort of like a
apanese Deee-Lite. The contributions of
hese guests really enliven an already
tied and accomplished album. The vo-
als on "Batucada,' "Luv Connection,"
Meditation" and "Son of Bambi," to
ame a few, perfectly complement the
atricate music around them.
The album functions as sort of a cul-
ural blender, pureeing, chopping and
nixing diverse musical styles into a glo-
The opening five minute track
"Hey Emilie," a mix of trippy melo-
dies, mellow lyrics, Hendrix-like licks,
and a shout-it-out chorus, epitomizes
the group's tendency to allow their
moods and their music to coexist. Ris-
ing, falling, rising, and then falling
again, "Mother Hips" take full advan-
tage of their technical ability and
range. There is no doubt that these cats
know how to play their instruments.
Although you may occasionally feel as
if you are listening to "The Grateful
Dead," as in the country diddy titled
"Two Young Queens," or perhaps ex-
periencing John Lennon's reincarna-
tion in the middle of "The Figure 11,"
a closer listen should help you realize
that these hipsters are complementing
their influences rather than ripping
them off. More often than not, "Back
to the Grotto" could send flower chil-
dren swaying and vibrating, eyes
closed and lips shut, merely througff
the way in which the songs are struc-
tured - which is wholly original. In
spite of their peace loving sentiments,
"Mother Hips" produce some intense
and explosive jams.
If you feel any nostalgia for classic
rock, or perhaps need some tunes for
your next sit in, you should get your
hands on "Back to the Grotto" and, as
singer Tim Bluhm suggests, "Lift up
your hands and extend two fingers."
- Cory Huttenga
U U
Minxus are friends to punk, jazz and little old ladies.
have a pronounce samba feel, like Brazil More than a few times, however, the
'66, but the lyrics are Japanese. "Son of band's energy slips somewhat, on songs
Bambi" mixes sitars, reggae, and tireless like "Vultura" and "Fecund Girls,"
dancebeats, while "Love Connection" which just don't seem to have any of the
comes off as ironically deadpan disco elements that make nearly all of the other
with a twist. If there's any justice, the tracks so exciting. On most tracks,
club scene will be listening to this now as though, Minxus keep all of their musical
well as in the future. ideas flowing nicely, whether it's on the
- Heather Phares spastic "X Y Zoom" or the mutant-pop
Minxus of "I Live On Sand."
Pabulum While not perfect, "Pabulum" does
succeed where so many pop-punk al-
Too Pure!/ American bums fail. By throwing in their jazz-ori-
Minxus sound something like a ented attitudes, they've managed to cre-
mishmash of punk, and pop and jazz all ate a collection of songs that remain in-
rolled into the form of a power trio, but teresting even after those first few lis-
their most endearing quality is, as is so tens.
rarely the case, they can pull it off with-
out seeming like some sort of novelty
fusion act. Throughout the album's 15
tracks, they rarely let up on their punkish
energy, and mixing jazz attitudes with
pop sensibilites makes sure their music
stays away from repetitiveness.
The album opens with a barrage of
three-minute gems, which state Minxus'
case perfectly. "Minxus" is an an intro-
duction to the band's accessible side,
with some carefree jazz vocals courtesy
of bassist She Rocola. Next up are the
more punk-oriented "Silk Purse" and "I
Know You Want To Stop," and the
beautiful "Pabulum," which shows that
the band have a great sense of melody as
well.
-Andv Dolan
Mother Hips y
Back to the Grotto
American
The time has come to place your
work gloves in your back pocket, put the
goats to rest, and musterup enough Cali-
fornia kind to make it around the circle at
least twice. "Back to the Grotto" is guar-
anteed to get every commune member in
America movin', groovin', and tunin'
into some totally heavenly sounds, man.
With '70s style rhythms, these modern
day hippies make an overt tribute to ev-
ery rocker who has ever made a stink
about war, politicians, or fast-paced con-
formity.
/t1 /1r M
The University of Michigan
School of Music
17TH CHURCH AND ORGAN MUSIC INSTITUTE
Wednesday, July 5
Toccatas for the Organ
Evelyn Lim, organist (UM graduate student)
8p.m., Blanche Anderson Moore Hall, School of Music, free
Thursday, July 6
Organ Music of the Baroque
Robert Jones, guest organist (University of Houston)
8 p.m., Blanche Anderson Moore Hall, $5 at the door
Friday, July 7
"Music of J. S. Bach"
Elinore Barber, guest lecturer (professor emerita, Baldwin
Wallace College; director, Riemenschneider Bach Institute)
8 p.m., Blanche Anderson Moore Hall, free
Saturday, July 8
Organ Music of France
Georges Robert, guest organist (Conservatoire National,
Versailles, France)
8 p.m., First Congregational Church, $5 at the door
Sunday, July 9
Organ Music of J. S. Bach
Josef Seraphim, gudst organist (Warsaw Conservatory)
4 p.in., Blanche Anderson Moore Hall, $5 at the door
Monday, July 10
Guest Carillon Recital
Gideon Bodden (Hilversum, The Netherlands)
7p.nt., outside Burton Mentorial Tower, free
Bach's Kirnberger Chorales
Wayne Barr, organist (UM graduate student)
8 p.m., Blanche Anderson Moore Hall, free
All events are free and wheelchair accessible unless
specified otherwise. For weekly events listings, call
the Music Hotline, 763-4726. The School of Music
is located at 1 100 Baits Drive, North Cattpus.
fun for techno afficionados.
SECOND STAGE PRODUCTIONS
PRESENTS
a summer romance
;te r , by kwilliam Inge
Directed by wendy Wright
July 6-22, 1995
8 p.m.
Thurs., Fri. & Sat. Evenings
t the C c Playhouse
2275Plat Road
Ann Artor Cii.Theare
97t AACT 122281
Tickets $8
ll 4A ,
since 1963
EYE EXAMS AND EYE GLASSES
STU ENT DIS NTS
cmO 4 RALPH LAUREN GIORGIO ARMANI
GUESS
CALVIN KLEIN '7
e y e w e a r
320Beo S.StateBlo Decker Drugs
662-1 945