A treasure trove of compelling oddities
Piers Moktan | Khorsor Elephant Stable, Nepal | 07/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Even if there is continuity in Nurse With Wound's music making practices, the outcomes are rarely predictable. And even though some trends and developments can be traced through Steven Stapleton's long career, his discography is so vast and convoluted that there's no easy entry point. Thus, whilst Sugar Fish Drink is one of many compilations, it should not be mistaken for anything as conventional as a 'best of' introduction- his music defies any attempt at a marketing strategy of accessibility (and he answers to no money men but himself anyway). That said, it's a fine collection of recordings from 1984-1991, featuring freaky skewed jazz, spooky sound collage, spoken word segments, percussive rhythms, and echoed refrains, all expertly assembled into that distinctive and inimitable sound that fans know and love. After purchasing these compelling compositions you're likely to become a compulsive addict of the Nurse With Wound project- one of music's best kept secrets."