The cross-cultural-genre-bending six-headed hydra that is THE GO! TEAM consists in one of the finest underground collectives currently available on the British Pop market. Exactly this – from the downtown basement where their records (cassetes seems more appropriate) are recorded, these gathering of excentrics build bridges to the Pop landscapes of times gone by – the early 1990s, the mid 1970s being two frequent destinations. They are another Brighton offspring, as THE KOOKS. Differing from their contemporaries, the eerie feel of that South coast location is an adamant part of their musical DNA. Take it by the share of competences within the outfit:
Ian Parton, a Welsh citizen, leader and founder, plays the guitar as well the drums. Most noticeable, though, is his peculiar take on the harmonica, which, depending on your ears, can be a mixed blessing or their ultimate curse;
Sam Dook, another guy, apart from guitar and drumming duties, plays the banjo (with ease, check out the last track);
Jamie Bell takes bass duties, he seems to be the only average guy here;
The first gal, Chi “Ky” Fukami Taylor, is a Japanese drummer (?) – THE GO! TEAM, apart from SHONEN KNIFE, seems the only band to have one;
Second gal B-girl Ninja is the rapper/singer/frontwoman/”I don’t give a damn” sex symbol/lounge lizard of the pack;
Finally, third gal Silke Steidinger, German multi-instrumentalist, played electric guitars, flutes and the melodica until she was replaced in mid-2005 by Kaori Tsuchida (Silke recorded this debut).
THE GO! TEAM is all about dynamics and mixing. Mixing different genres and eras to canvass fluid pieces that never truly coalesce that much, apart from the genre exercises (they love good and old Philly Sound, Bossa Nova and Muzak). In that respect, they are the HAPPY MONDAYS of the 21st century, minus the menace and confrontational appeal. Their sonic confusion is not the spirit of times – they chose it. As the MONDAYS, they have found a psychologic niche in the past. Differing from the MONDAYS, their craft is more developed, they managed to carve a balanced album out of their sonic confusion. But the spell of the MONDAYS was irregularity, uneveness! That’s how they carved the multi-dimensional masterpiece Pills, Thrills N’Bellyaches. THE GO! TEAM seems to lack that mysterious sparks that split the spirited from the true geniuses. For sure they don y have a Shaun Ryder, but who else would?
OK. 2004 s Thunder, Lightning, Strike is a nice record, with the minor achievement of managing to balance all the strands of their sonority. You can listen to it in a row and remember, hum, ELTON JOHN.
Panther Dash comes across as a bizarre crossing of sorts between ARCADE FIRE (fiery, but melancholic guitars), NEW ORDER (undeliable melodic electronica or electric melodies?) and THE THE (This Is The Day morose harmonica). Snippets of sound effects add(ict) to the post-apocalypse lounge mood.
Ladyflash begins resembling the kind of ballad PULP used to release all those years ago, post-modernist cabaret with loads of sheer irony. However, this time with a female main voice (Ninja) brings the whole thing closer to LADY SOVEREIGN thereafter (including a scratch solo) adding to the HAPPY MONDAYS mismatch with the baggy percussion. This is what DUSTY SPRINGFIELD would be recording those days, I bet.
Feelgood By Numbers is electronic Bossa Nova played by Old-School Rap enthusiasts. As BEASTIE BOYS’ Money Mark, the guys have a knack for retro sonorities. They love the harmonica too. Apart from the title, this is not anything by numbers, they have personality.
The Power Is On is another Feminist-Psycho-Rap-Madchester baggy of tricks. As if THE SPICE GIRLS recorded with ANDREW WEATHERALL. This time the two gals share vocal duties (recalling CHUMBAWAMBA, bar none). The minimalist backing sounds and lyrics are just window-dressing for another HAPPY MONDAYS aural assault. I love those closing handclaps!
Get It Together presents a hippie GORILLAZ. Acoustic guitars and percussion, flutes, pre-programmed sound effects etc. Perry Farrel would love it. I miss HAPPY MONDAYS’ stoned menace and grotesque (Donovan etc), otherwise the whole thing is close to unbearable. Don’t be surprised if those guys invite JACK JOHNSON for a cameo! The amusing old school-electro coda is the only thing worth mentioning here.
Junior Kickstart is a tremendous display of dynamics, in the best New Rock tradition (OK, until the brass section arrives). Then is just the Philly Sound of mid 1970’s translated to post-punk environments (and that twanged harmonica once again). That is to say – wow! Some people pay attention to CAKE renditions of seventies gems. This is the real thing! Re-trans-creation.
After a brief vignette on the throes of DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 (loud, mean, Air Raid Guitars) we have another plentiful of room for excentricities, Bottle Rocket (CHUMBAWAMBA meets HAPPY MONDAYS meets CORNERSHOP meets JESUS JONES). Cut everything together and paste for maximum effect (or, at least, melodic epic confusion). The flowing chorus keeps the whole thing together. It recalls specific moments of the 1990’s many crossovers. I think the harmonica is their best-kept secret – or would they believe every song need a solo of the instrument?
Friendship Update updates ABBA for the New Wave era. Lilting piano, icy melodies, pretty arrangements. I just don’t get why they kept it strictly instrumental. Not that I wouldn’t do this kind of thing, but they have a certain pop appeal. SUEDE tried something similar on their lesser album A New Morning, at least someone built upon that hint!
Huddle Formation was the natural candidate for a hit (and paid off), as it resembles many bands of the present, THE FUTUREHEADS, THE KILLS, even YEAH YEAH YEAHS, girl-gone-nuts vocals and pretty, yet obtuse, sonic landscapes. The dynamics is akin to THE STROKES on Valium – morose, static, yet edgy. Bubblegum-Dance-Indie-Pop. But this is not where their strenght rests on, I believe.
The excentric record folds with a Muzak-Country rendition named Everyone Is a VIP to Someone. Not surprisingly, it is a must-hear. It updates the mid-1970s once again, that mellower era of Pop music pulsates again with renewed sense of purpose and genuine reverence. STEREOLAB and THE CARDIGANS would be hands down. Me too! See ya.
Tracklist:
(* * * *) Panther Dash
(* * * * ½) Ladyflash
(* * * *) Feelgood By Numbers
(* * * ½) Get It Together
(* * * * ½) Junior Kickstart
(* * * ½) Air Raid Gtr
(* * * *) Bottle Rocket
(* * * *) Friendship Update
(* * * *) Huddle Formation
(* * * * ½) Everyone is a VIP to Someone
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out
