Monday 25 August 2008

Soil and "Pimp" Sessions, Planet Pimp

To sense the full force of Soil & Pimp "Sessions" you in truth need to be at the foot of a stage, non plugged into an iPod. After all, the Japanese alt. nothingness collective have built their name around a repute for fast, frenetic live shows. While not a patch on the live experience, S&P "S"' fourth album captures much of this furious, feverish energy.



The six-piece, wHO burst onto the DJ-driven Tokyo club scene in 2001, have perfected their unique sound through unnumerable live performances. Having toured with the likes of Berlin based 'nu-jazz' collective Jazzanova and been championed by euphony guru Gilles Peterson (whose Brownswood label they ar now sign to), S&P "S" suffer secured their place as pioneers of experimental altitude. jazz.



If 2007's Pimpoint record album constituted inanimate, technically sharp compositions, album number four-spot takes the group's self styled harsh approach a step farther. The incongruously named Hollow is a dense aural onslaught. Like a crazed dog on acid, the track dips and dives through cacophonic guitar fragments and swaggering psychedelic tones before finally settling on a victorious trumpet leitmotif. Storm is equally unruly with dazzling brass and wriggling, hard ornamented phrasing, while Go Next! dozens top simon Marks for plain audaciousness.



Despite their kamikaze ad-hoc tendencies, S&P "S" never earmark serrated-edged riffs and boisterous rhythms to get in the way of a good tonal pattern. The World Is Filled By � as in a flash memorable as Pimpoint standout track A.I.E � ranks high on the catchiness scale. With knee-quiveringly upright harmonies it is for certain a contender for single release. The heady ruffle of entwined samba rhythms and slayer keyboard on Sea Of Tranquility is equally irresistible.



While constantly dynamic, Planet Pimp never runs away with itself. Most importantly, its creators steer clear of ostentation. Dizzyingly substantial, if at times physically exhausting to listen to, Planet Pimp offers ungoverned excitement at every turn. On moment thoughts, possibly the listening experience is as dear after all.




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