Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Parais — Son Of A Bitches Brew
The album features seven tracks in all, and these fall between the epic twelve to nine minute freak-outs, to shorter eight to three minute tracks. Firstly lets talk about the positives: ATM have nicely managed to recreate the sound & mood of the guitar, bass & electric piano of this classic Davis period. Next there are moments here when ATM’s spacey & psychedelic sound blends perfectly with the electric period sound to create a wonderful careering & manic highbred. Oh and lastly there are some great perverse tongue-in-cheek takes on Mr Davis own song titles & albums, take “Water Babies Kill Kill Kill” or “Helen Buddha; Miss Condom X”
Now onto the negatives: sadly too often the tracks seem to lose there focus drifting into manic ATM free-fall with little structure or form, as you find searing space synth trails, dada vocal darts, and space whisper mixing with guitar freak-outs & shapeless electric piano jams. Next there is no trumpet playing present on any of the songs, there are just the odd honk of soprano sax & recorder. I know I'm maybe being fussy, but it’s just a pity they did even attempt to get a trumpet player, but then again who could the have equalled or even come close to Mr Davis?!.
It’s always interesting to see ATM’s take on other’s sounds, and in the past they have often managed to create very effective & rewarding albums from this type of thing…take last years “The Ripper at the Heavens Gates of Dark” that mixed together elements of The Doors, Led Zeppelin & Pink Floyd. Sadly “Son Of A Bitches Brew” is mostly too concerned with ATM free-fall & shape-less jazz rock jamming, with only the very flitting glints of solid & rewarding song craft present here.