TEN LITTLE PIGGIES: TUNES FROM FUTURE PROJECTS

The jaded world of The Residents are easier to take when listening to their studio albums as they are incoherent enough rather than listening to a compilation of their material. This one is really strange because the tracks are all to be used in future projects.

It begins with a reimagining of 'Semolina' originally found on "Duck Stab" which is just a repetitive mantra with some odd keyboards. The synths are more ambient on the (excerpt) 'The Voice of Midnight: Instrumental' and especially the haunting 'Title (Strange Culture)' which is quite ethereal. 'Sad Saint John - from Arkansas' has female vocals like some demented choir. Later some vocals come in with that familiar Louisiana accent. The monotone chanting is what I have become accustomed to on The Residents albums.

The (excerpt) of Tweedles is yet another instrumental with some nice low tone synths and a piano motif. This is more accessible than most Residents material and I liked the mechanised sound generated, sounding a bit like Kraftwerk or Faust. It even has Japanese warbling at the end and some distorted guitar licks. One of the best tracks on this compilation.

The (excerpt In the Dark) THE UGHS! Is of course from "THE UGHS!", one I have yet to hear. This track is dominated with percussion and ominous synths, with a discordant violin screech. It is just plain weirdness with some jungle insect sounds and thunder effects. The original was 10 minutes but this is edited to only half the length.

'Laughing Song' is a classic from "Duck Stab" and it is the Re-Imagined sketches and therefore quite different. You won't find much joy in its atonal approach and unsettling musical textures. It is the opposite of funny I guess which makes it all the more quirky ad appropriate to the Avant sound. The tribal drums are again prominent.

'The Unseen Sister' is from the recent "Talking Light" which became "Lonely Teenager". That version was 7:56 whereas this is trimmed to 5:36. This version has some xylophone tinkling but the same lyrics are utilised. The story is not as dark with the regular narration. It is much darker and unsettling on "Lonely Teenager" but still the story is quite compelling. It concerns how mother has some nasty accidents in the kitchen, first boiling her face with hot water, and then dying by electrocuting herself. He compares this coldly with his dead goldfish. Nice.

The (excerpt) of 'Hades' is from the exhibition, Hades, and features percussive rhythms and some atonal woodwind and a disjointed banjo. The music is very unsettling and discordant on this track and I guess that is appropriate but I was glad when this ended.

'Credits (Haeckel's Tale)' from the soundtrack is a shorter piece that has a lot of majestic brass and keyboard motifs. It is pleasant after the previous track. This is followed by 'My Brother's Skin' from Arkansas. The sustained key pads are ambient but the creepy walking bass sounds are joined with a deranged vocal and loud crashes of sound; "death surrounds me, death is everywhere." The high shrilly sonic blasts are unnerving and this is back to a darker sound. I must admit that the lead guitar licks at the end are very welcome. The concept of seeing his brother's skin floating above him can only come from the twisted mind of The Residents.

'The Graveyard (Haeckel's Tale)' is another instrumental from the soundtrack and is haunting with wind howl vocals and a droning key pad. 'Talking Light' is another that appeared on "Lonely Teenager" and is trimmed from 10 minutes to 7:19. This has the same weird tale of burying a baby on request of a mysterious 7 page note and then being haunted by the act. It is quite different here but still one of the highlights due to the compelling strangeness and ghostly atmosphere. It features the shrilly vocals technique that appears on many Residents albums. The atmosphere builds ominously until the final deed. He buries the wedding ring and the bones on compulsion and then tries to forget. I must admit this tale is hard to forget no matter where it appears. A tune worth digging up??. So to speak. 'Blood on the Bunny' is a live rendition from the Bunny Boy tour. It doesn't sound live as audiences were usually dead quiet during a Residents concert. The more aggressive singing is typical of the live approach. The guitars are very well executed and the synth embellishments work nicely as a foundation.

This compilation is certainly not a starting point for those wishing to explore The Residents' inimitable style. It is okay for those already initiated, with at least 3 excellent tracks to savour, but it doesn't gel together and is too sporadic and patchy to enjoy fully. I have no idea what the band are attempting to achieve here as nothing makes sense and is all taken out of context. One for the collectors I believe.

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