Search - Drumbo :: City of Refuge

Drumbo
City of Refuge
Genres: Pop, Rock

Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
1. Bogeyman
2. Bus Ticket Outta Town
3. Blood on a Porcupine Quill
4. City of Refuge
5. Abandon
6. Get So Mean
7. Maybe That ll Teach Ya
8. To The Loft of Ravenscroft
9. The Shirt Off My Back
10. The Wicked Witch of War
11. Whose Side Ya On
12. The Withered Hand of Time

CD Details

All Artists: Drumbo
Title: City of Refuge
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Proper Records Us
Original Release Date: 1/1/2008
Re-Release Date: 11/18/2008
Genres: Pop, Rock
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 805520030243

Synopsis

Product Description

John Drumbo French re-unites fellow Magic Band alumni Bill Harkelroad (aka Zoot Horn Rollo), Mark Boston (aka Rockette Morton), Greg Davidson (aka Ella Guru), and John Thomas for this solo recording of all new compositions entitled 'City of Refuge'. The self-produced album was recorded in London and at various locations in the U.S.

'I think 'City of Refuge' is important because it re-visits a style of music that was founded by Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) and developed by various Magic Bands over the years. The music on this album came to me as total inspiration from being involved in The Magic Band reunion project. Listening to the music of Don Van Vliet and singing with the band, I realized that I was re-visiting my musical roots and wondered about how I had strayed so far away,'; French says.

As the drummer and music director for revered iconoclasts Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, French made central contributions to a handful of LPs - notably 1969's mind-altering, revered masterpiece 'Trout Mask Replica', on which he first acquired the antic stage-name 'Drumbo' - that vastly expanded the parameters of contemporary music. French's influential contributions can also be found on projects with Frank Zappa, Mallard, Crazy Backwards Alphabet, Henry Kaiser and Richard Thompson, among others.

'City of Refuge' is a craggy, bluesy, melody-laced mixture of interlocking rhythms and straight-ahead emotion that no one with a love of experimental rock will want to miss.

CD Reviews

A overdue masterpiece

D. giesen | No Cal USA | 11/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alot of hard work and outstanding musicianship by all. It really shows and I mean big time. A must have."

Must-Have For Unconventional Music Lovers

Fred Rayworth | Las Vegas, NV United States | 02/01/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After hearing samples on Drumbo's MySpace page, I couldn't wait to get this CD. As a huge fan of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band, I'll admit I have a built in bias toward anything the original Magic Band members are doing. However, after just one listen to this CD, I came away with a real sense of joy and why I love music in the first place.

There is no doubt about the Beefheart influences heard throughout the twelve songs here. There are times when one might think it actually is the Captain in a more up-to-date version of himself. However, this is pure Drumbo. In fact, it sometimes makes me wonder how much of Trout Mask was actually Beefheart versus John French. The influences are unmistakable. However, don't get the idea that this is a Beefheart tribute, or John just copying that style. John French can't help but have a similar vibe because he helped create that style in the first place.

The CD is a unique blend of quirky blues mixed with freeform jazz. The bluesier numbers dominate the first half while the second half leans more toward free-form jazz and the trademark Trout Mask influences.

The CD starts out with Boogeyman, which takes a bit to get a feel for the groove, but once you do, it just clicks and the song really rocks. Then my next favorite, Bus Ticket Out Of Town kicks in with a more conventional blues vibe, while still retaining John's quirky timing and growly vocals.

I have many favorites here and they include Bus Ticket, City of Refuge, Abandon, and Boogeyman. However, all of the tracks are great.

This is the type of music to sit back and absorb. There are multiple facets to the songs and it will take many listens to hear and discover all the little details. This is definitely listening music, yet there is still a toe tapping accessibility that should satisfy those that go for the more conventional.

City Of Refuge is like a fine wine with a complex bouquet that can take more than one sip to absorb and identify. I'm not a big jazz fan, and though I appreciate the blues, I usually don't listen to it either. This CD is both yet neither, unique enough that I can listen to it and like it for its unconventionality. For me it transcends both styles in a way that keeps my ear glued to the sound system.

The musicianship is top-notch, the timing and playing perfect, and John's voice is powerful and fits perfectly with the mix. The production of the music is top notch and no voice or instrument is buried in the mix, all striking the perfect balance. He enlists the help of former Magic Band members including Zoot Horn Rollo, Rockette Morton, Ella Guru, and John Thomas (who wasn't in the Magic Band long enough to get an AKA). All of them help John to bring out the best in each song.

If you are looking for something different, something that will keep you absorbed listen after listen, you can't go wrong with City of Refuge. Highly recommended.

"