4AD 1997 / Tarnation / Michael Brook / Pixies / Joyride OST

1997


BAD 7001 - Tarnation / Your Thoughts and Mine EP
Released February 24 1997

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Given their stunning Folk & Western soundtracks, Frazer and her Tarnation combo are bound to conjure up evocative descriptions, and boundless praise. In 1995, Mojo writer Johnny Black's smitten live review (and Judy/Tarantino image) ended with the observation that, the seeds of something to cherish are there", and that if her roster of musicians could stabilise, "they'll blossom", and that's exactly what Tarnation have done with the new album Mirador? With the same line-up consolidating around former member Paula, the darkly-brooding laments are more intense, the spooked guitar twangs more haunting, the rhythmic backdrop tougher, and the strength and range of Frazer's exquisite voice captured with greater clarity.

CAD 7003 - Michael Brook / Albino Alligator
Released February 11 1997

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Translating Brook's evocative guitar art into soundtrack music for a Kevin Spacey-directed neo-noir thriller might seem an unusual choice. However, his work here turns into an interesting blend of his own style and smoky late night jazz and darker, moodier incidental guitar, interspersed with a variety of other instrumental touches. One of his sharpest moves lies in the mixing of performers he brings to the effort. Besides stand-up bass and sax, the ney, udu, and srinivas guitar figure into the rotating lineup of instruments he and his various collaborators tackle. Brook himself also plays keyboard on nearly all the tracks, as well as handling a good amount of the bass and drum programming. Given the project's origins, it's striking if not totally surprising that most of the pieces hold up as well on their own as do Brook's separate efforts. "Albo Gator" underscores the collaborative nature of the project, with some of Christian Forte's lines from the movie played over the gentle chime of the piece, provided in large part by Jason Lewis' tuned percussion. "Preparation" alone is worth the investigating, one of Brook's serene guitar drones and gentle performances, leading into a Morricone-western melody echoing into the distance. Hints of the intense plucking and drive that he brings to many of his pieces bubble under the mix in contrast. "Arrival" starts the album and sets the tone for both film and disc wonderfully, merest hints of Brook's trademark style coming through as a four-performer setup conjures up ghosts of legendary past jazz-noir scores. "Miscalculation" is a more upbeat if no less mood-setting effort, Hafez Modirzadeh's short sax tones and Lewis' quick work on tabla and tom-drum setting the tone. A fine, unexpected touch comes with the final track, a cover of the old Harold Arlen number "Ill Wind," with Jimmy Scott and Michael Stipe on vocals and Flea on bass. - Ned Raggett, All Music Guide

DAD 7011 - Pixies / Death To The Pixies
Released October 07 1997

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Death to the Pixies has a difficult task -- distilling the highlights of a band that concentrated on albums, not singles. The Pixies' catalog was remarkably consistent, which means that most won't agree with all the 17 selections that comprise the first disc of this retrospective, since there are so many strong songs on their records. While most of the usual suspects are here -- "Debaser," "Here Comes Your Man," "Bone Machine," "Gigantic," "Where Is My Mind?," "Velouria," "Nimrod's Son," "Wave of Mutilation," "Monkey Gone to Heaven" -- many of the selections appear to have been made at random. As good as "Cecilia Ann," "Holiday Song," "U-Mass," and "Gouge Away" are, such essentials as "River Euphrates," "Cactus," "Hey," "Allison," "Vamos," "I've Been Tired," "The Happening," "Letter to Memphis," and "Motorway to Roswell" could have easily taken their place. Some of these songs are on disc two, a 21-song live disc culled from a 1990 Dutch concert that has been heavily bootlegged. It's a terrific concert, but the pairing of a greatest-hits record with a live show is puzzling, since casual fans who want the hits won't need the live disc, and the hardcore fans only need the second disc. This pairing alone makes Death to the Pixies unnecessary for neophytes, but the hits disc itself also is an imperfect introduction, since its nonchronological sequencing distorts the Pixies' impact. Still, there's so much great music on the collection that it isn't worthless, but the presentation is so ill-conceived that the very existence of Death to the Pixies is a little puzzling. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Various / Joyride OST
Released November 18 1997

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The best part of 1997's awful teen murder flick Joyride was the soundtrack, pieced together by 4AD's Ivo Watts-Russell. As an assemblage of the label's roster, it flows well, to the point of serving the same purpose as a DJ mix CD. The majority of this favors the dreamier side of the label's output, interrupted only by the discordance of Scheer's "Cannon." Lush fans might also take note, as the disc leads off with an instrumental version of Split's "Light From a Dead Star." This Mortal Coil, Watts-Russell's first studio project, makes three appearances, including its virtual lifting of Can's "Halleluwah" for "Something Borrowed." From the reverb-drenched twang of Tarnation's "Game of Broken Hearts" to Colourbox's dubbed-up "Shoot Out," Joyride displays the unrealized diversity of 4AD. Pale Saints fans should approach the movie with caution -- witnessing the manner in which "A Thousand Stars Burst Open" is used will surely trigger the gag reflex. - Andy Kellman, All Music Guide