Search - Califone :: Sometimes Good Weather

Improvised Instrumentals (That Don't Suck)

11/28/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I really only discovered Califone in the past year or two when I bought "Roomsound" on a whim. Since then, I've gone back and acquired the entire Califone catalog, as much of Red Red Meat as I can find, and the Loftus CD. In short, I think Califone is one of the best bands in the U.S. right now.The album is called "Deceleration Two" (I'm not sure why Amazon calls it "Deceleration of Two"). It is the second album by Califone of improvised instrumental music performed live as accompaniment to several short films. "Deceleration One" (the first volume) is great, and I highly recommend it. I like "Deceleration Two" slightly more. It just sounds more diverse to me.Generally speaking, I am not a big fan of improvised music. For the most part, I can't stand jazz. For some reason, I love the two Deceleration records. The music is at times jazzy, funky, rocky, psychedelic, and atonal. In short, it is exactly like Califone's studio albums but at the same time nothing like their studio albums. It sometimes reminds me of Syd's Pink Floyd, David Bowie's work with Brian Eno, and nothing that I've ever heard before.The album was recorded live on February 22, 2002 at the Ferguson Theatre, Columbia College, Chicago, Illinois.Here is the track listing:Music for "Francis" (2002) by Brent Green:
1. Francis
(The actual "Francis" film is included as an enhanced video on Califone's most recent album "Quicksand/Cradlesnakes."Music for "Firework (no mail days are sad days)" (2002) by Jeff Economy:
2. I
3. II
4. IIIMusic for "Salome" (1922) by Alla Nazimova:
5. The moon is chaste. She is like a little piece of money
6. In the palace of Herod
7. Effeminate soldiers at the cage of Jokaanan/Salome hears the prophet's voice
8. ". . . suffer me to touch thy body . . . touch thy hair . . . kiss thy mouth . . ."/"Daughter of Sodom. Get thee behind me."
9. The young Syrian slays himself/Herod slips in a pool of blood
10. "I love to see in a fruit the mark of little teeth."
11. "Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, if thou wilt but dance for me, Salome."
12. She Dances
13. "I ask the head of Jokaanan in a silver charger."
14. Skull ring in the fist of the executioner
15. "I will not look at things, I will not suffer things to look at me."
16. " I have kissed thy mouth.""

A great idea: Part two

Old man | 05/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Live improvisations to film is a practice that harkens to the old days of silent film, which is precisely where Califone puts a new spin on the idea. The second of two live releases, Deceleration 2 follows in the vein of its predecessor- a new kind of soundtrack."