Search - Jeroan van Aichen :: Ancient Chinese Secret

As Close to Real-Life as We Can Hope For - For Now

Tom Erhardt | Salem, Oregon United States | 05/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For the record, his name isn't Jeroan - Jeroan Van Aichen is a band name, and Jim Walker is the artist behind it, alongside his uber-guitarist friend Tim Ellis, and a revolving-door cast of Portland's finest musicians (Toki Wolf, C B Rock, Gregg Williams, Nancy Hess, Craig Carrothers, etc.) I've seem Jim and Tim perform live many times, and this CD comes "closest," though not that close, to what they sound like live. It's arguably the most "accessible" JVA project, but please don't let that discourage you from giving it a spin. Everything by JVA is at least a little way across the line of normalcy. Ancient Chinese Secret has its share of the offbeat dark humor and provocative imagery we expect from the mind of Walker, and for the first time, Ellis' superb acoustic guitar work is up front 'n center on nearly every track. My Favorites include "Corner Store," "Spanish Fire," "Bad Luck," "Useless Things," and the outrageosly funny hidden track "Kate Moss." Buy this CD! Listen repeatedly! You won't regret it!"