THE 12 DAYS OF BRUMALIA

I recently heard this album and, to be fare, I have to say that it is a 4,5 stars item (but that doesn't exist here). This album contains very ambitious levels of almost pure electronic composition. I say "Ambitious" because of the intrincated nature of them. While listening to it, it is easy for me to imagine this sounds into a very futuristic radio broadcast. This time, The Residents decided not to repite themselves by unfolding yet another resurrection of their "style" (like they did on Animal Lover, a good album, but not an innovative one), or bother the listener by talking all over the album with absolutely no rythm (God in three persons; I kind of hate that album because of how incredibly boring is the constant voice-over work). Instead, they create an almost entirely instrumental album, abundant on details for the listener. It is a very hard piece to listen to, and fulfills the need (for those who likes them) of a well developed Residents album. Nothing is simple on any of the "songs", multiple layers of melodies and sounds simply drives every song as far as possible from the point of origin, resulting into mutated tracks and a record in wich nothing is predictible. It maybe risky to say this, but on this release, The Residents have top themselves. Off course, absolutely recommendable for electronic experimentation fans. As far as I know, is one of the best Residents album I've heard. About track 8, you loose your mind a bit...

Sophisticated as Hell!

By now, the production excellence of almost all recorded material, mainstream and not, is no "big" news for no one. In fact most of the times the concerns have to do more with if the production could have been better or if it was overly done. Because like it or not, excellent production is almost by rule now a "market device", which phantoms or enhances, the virtues or mediocrity of anyone, depending on your pick and taste.

But of course, when it comes to "The Residents", things could not have been better. As this "The 12 Days of Brumalia", fully demostrates. For 12 days, starting on December 25th, 2003, a new song was posted on Residents.com web site along with an illustration and a quote. At the end, the 12 songs were put together and released as a single "album".

Now, what usually happens to me, with great albums, is the same as with great books or films, I myself do not want to be foretold nothing about them. So, I will point some references, not to spoil no one's fun.

Imagine the intention of the "Commercial Album", with perfectly detailed arrangements, tainted with splashes of very RiO, very Resident like, string work, along great moments of pure contemporary electronics, some creative hard-electric guitar touches and catchy riffs, mixed up into a multi-oriented musical language, among a vast field of "covers" and original songwriting. All enhanced to unexpected levels, due to its "undercovered" excellent mastering and production. Really, even the satires and spoofs, sound like an alternate "serious" version of their originals, yet they remain spoofs and satires, The Resident's "midas" touch.

To close things down, 12 flawless, very inspired, rich and creative, fragmented-minimal songs, compressed into single songs, enhanced to the top, with great arrangements, very humorous details and a very creative use of "production".

That for me, adds up for a ****4, plus my review, PA stars project.

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