CD reviews,
Mar.26
By:Ben Greenstein
"Group Mind"
Just when I thought the whole trip-hop sound had been done to death by unimaginative Portishead clones, along comes one with enough good ideas to prove me wrong. There’s much to like here-the funky rhythm section, the unpredictable and sultry vocals, the unlikely flirtations with 70’s guitar rock and droning space music. Overall, refreshingly rich and charmingly lo-fi.
San Diego
CityBeat.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CD reviews,
Jan. 24-30
By:Jim Trageser
"Group Mind"
What to make of the latest release from the South Bay’s f.u.z.z.? The easy way to describe this swirling melange of music is to avoid the issue altogether, slap the "experimental" label on it and be done with it. Trying to describe the thick, heady soup of sounds found here is a bit daunting. Lead singer Mimi has a Billie Holiday-like singing voice - high and pure and almost brittle, yet heartbreakingly expressive. Bassist Elkin and drummer Lohan create an impressive palette of rhythmic backgrounds, from the ultra-simple beats on "Three Way" that remind of the almost-lost art form of the black fife-and- drum bands of Mississippi, through the bebop jazz of the opening track, "Flow," to the straight-ahead jazz of "Sweet and Lowdown" and the electronica of "State of the World."
The sound is filled out by Mimi’s keyboards, as well as guest musicians on sax and organ on a few tracks. But Elkin’s bass playing is so melodic, it’s enough with the drums and Mimi’s haunting vocals to more than create a full sound on those songs performed as a trio.
While most of the album has a very thick, downbeat groove somewhere between techno and house on one side and late-night classic jazz on the other, toward the end of the CD things get both more interesting and weirder. "Beat of Unconscience" is an extended eight-minute jam that would have fit in comfortably on one of Pink Floyd’s early releases, while "Goatwall" is a 17-minute track with Elkin’s guitar riding atop syncopated bass lines with a couple of heavy-duty effects boxes that give the whole a very ’70s vibe. When Mimi starts singing toward the end of the track, the effect is akin to having Billie Holiday sit in with the Jeff Beck Group circa 1969.
From acid jazz to hard-edged progressive rock?
Give f.u.z.z. credit - listening to the album, it all makes perfect sense.
San Diego
North County Times.
http://apps.facebook.com/reverbnation_fb/artist/fuzzmusic -------------
Originators: mimi and elkin have been collaborating with many artists for a decade. the current line-up (three piece) with mimi out front and ... elkin on bass and lohan on drums, we keep it simple n tight!
the newest material is coming very soon! TENTACLE is in it's final phase of creation! --------------------------------------
to PURCHASE our previous recordings, GO TO www.cdbaby.com/cd/fuzzband
Thanks for the add f.u.z.z., I love your sounds btw, awesome!
If you get a chance, please take a listen to our first Chill out release "Beach Music, Cafe Music & Bar Music Collection" by ACO Ambient Chill Out. We'd love to know what you think of it!
fuzz crew! i loooooooved your show at Whistle Stop on Friday - really inspired me!! I'll be putting together an event in the coming months with local SD artists and musicians, maybe you would like to play? LOVELY SOUNDS!!!!!!!
