Search - James White & Blacks :: Off White

KONTORT YOURSELF in the 21st. century

globalove | BIG APPLE | 11/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"James White was the catalyst to the post-punkfunk new york no-wave. His 12" disco version of contort yourself is a hypertrophic masterpiece that i play whenver i deejay regardless of how many people are confused by its conceptual late miles lounge lizard discombobulated cryptic freestyle jazz noise.The 12" though has a great disco beat. But the non-disco version is fabulous. Messy, exotic, punky, with attitude and whimsy. I saw the contortions play live in 1976. Pure f**ked up dazz.Extended and alternate versions of the original vinyl are all inlcuded here which makes this record a must. It was not available on cd for the longest time and the vinyl is rare. Ideally I recommend the newly released box set of all his albums."

Sax and violins

Pieter | Johannesburg | 03/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This remarkable album opens with the hypnotic Contort Yourself, an innovative blend of pulsating rhythms and virtuoso saxophone that is followed by Stained Sheets, a bizarre, eerie song in the form of a phone conversation between James and one Stella Rico, which is probably Lydia Lunch, making yearning, doll-like noises that somehow mirrors the sound of the sax.



The relative normality of Tropical Heatwave comes as a relief, although it is also embellished with brilliant instrumental flourishes. The vocals are by Tad Among and Ginger Lee and the song is quite charming. Almost Black Part 1, a female vocal, is angry and provocative, whilst the saxophones go berserk on the nervous and edgy instrumental White Savages.



Off Black is the most avant-jazz piece imaginable, whilst the instrumental Almost Black Part 2 has a lilting rhythm punctuated by twittering and squealing sax. White Devil starts out sounding somewhat cacophonic but quickly coheres into a most evocative piece of music. Another highlight is the jazz-punk number Bleached Black, quite a sonic revelation!



Although James White's alto sax dominates the sound, the plethora of instruments includes guitar, slide guitar, bass, piano, tenor sax, congas, organ and violin. The often atonal but always cohesive music is most funky and original, reminding one of Captain Beefheat or Sun Ra at their weirdest.



This re-issue includes bonus tracks, which make an already recognized masterpiece into a definitive must-have. But listen before you buy; Off White will only appeal to fans of the type of music made by the aforementioned artists, some of Zappa's more experimental stuff and avant-garde jazz.



Mutant Disco



The Singles



Queen of Siam



Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)"