Search - Material :: Temporary Music (1979-1981)

Now THIS Is Genuinely Progressive Rock/Funk/Industrial

P. McKenna | Atlanta GA | 02/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like "Memory Serves" or any of the earlier Material projects, you'll definitely dig this compilation of recordings from their earliest period. You can hear the disparate elements that fused together to make Material one of the most unique collectives in music.



Bill Laswell proves quite the ringleader here with his darting/slithery bass (check out "Discourse", and doubly cool is Bill Bacon's busy, yet grooving drumming, whatever became of him?). His core cohorts Michael Beinhorn (tapes/synths/vocals.found sounds) and guitarist Cliff Cultreri along with a varied cast create music that is indeed very forwrd thinking, more times than not, danceable and genuinely experimental without going so far out in the ozone that you lose interest. Ominous rockers ("Slow Murder", "Detached") dance uneasily with avant-funk workouts ("Discourse", "Ciquiri", I'll NEVER be able to get that "This dance is no white man's business" chant out of my head!)and industrial sounds in ways that will keep you on the edge of your seat.



"