music reviews

::: The Stinking Badger Of Java ::: "In a Highland Eden"

eclectic-avant-jazz-rock

Who knows where they got their name from, but TSBOJ's music and lyrics are as distinct and offbeat as the name suggests. Musically, it's unlike anything I've (and perhaps, you've) heard before... the best I can do is to say it's something like The Violent Femmes meets Not Drowning Waving, Stereolab, and the Whitlams with a swinging jazz-folk feel and interchanging male and female vocals. How about a cheerful version of the Wreckery or Birthday Party as a vague alternative description? A 5-piece, TSBOJ consists of real live accomplished musicians, as opposed to stacks of programmed synths.

The lyrics are totally unique. I've never heard lyrics like this. And i've heard a LOT! I bet you've never heard lyrics like these. They're totally off the wall. The sort of things you hear and think "are they really singing what I think they're singing? I never thought that could work as a lyric". Fresh and exciting. l love the orchestration - the way the various instruments fit together complimenting each other.

The band members are multi instrumentalists and obviously very talented. My favourite pieces are "Pissing Diamonds" and "Acorn" with their rumble-tumble bass-lines, percussion, French Horn and Paul Narkiewicz's amazing, repeat, AMAZING, vocals. He's a real crooner in a totally classy way. I aspire to sing like this one day. Brigitte Kelle's soothing voice, somewhat reminiscent of Stereolab's vocalist, acts as a very suitable counterpoint and often takes the lead as in "All Quiet". For even more diversity, "Stanley Miller" features the vocals of Thomas Bollinger. The use of various brass and wind instruments adds greatly to the unique quality of the TSBOJ's sound.

Overall, this is pretty groovy stuff. 14 tracks over 62 minutes TSBOJ forms the backbone of the Yippie Bean Collective - a fiercely independent Label & Publishing house. Their motto: "support artists not middlemen". Woo-hoo! Right on! They have numerous CD releases and zines available.

Available for $14 from Yippie Bean Records - PO Box 194 Rosanna 3084 Victoria Australia E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.warehouse.net/yippiebean