Primus — Sailing the Seas of Cheese
1991’s “Seas Of Cheese” was the bands second album, following up their 1990 debut album "Frizzle Fry"- which had featured the single “John the Fisherman”,which was underground hit helping them sign to major label Interscope for "Seas.."
This second album is seen as the bands most consistent & wholly rewarding release, and this double CD/DVD reissue of the album brings together: a new stereo mix of the album, a few extra tracks, a twenty page inlay booklet with a new write-up/ interview with the band, and a DVD featuring new 5.1 surround sound version of the album with minimal though fairly effective visual’s for each of the albums track.
The original album featured 13 tracks all in all, and these are all grounded & based around the distictive 'n' biting fletless bass playing of the bands leader Les Claypool. Around this core is Larry LaLonde’s taut & angular guitar playing that has the odd prog flashers, Tim Alexander uniformed & syncopation drum work, and Claypool's energetic, edgy & often cartoon like vocals. Through-out most of the album the mood & pace of the tracks is kept taut, slamming, slightly off-kilter, yet still fairly approachable. There are odd tips into slightly more bizarre song introductions & darts into moody noodiling’s that shift into melted junk band meet avant jazz. Yet most of the tracks never hang around too long lasting between three to five minute mark, with only the last track “Fish On(Fishman Chronicles, chapter II)" coming in just under the eight minute mark. And this last track is one of the more moody & building moments here.
I brought this when it first came out in 1991, and now listening to it all these years later it still sounds as urgent, strange, edgy, and memorable as it did back then. The new stereo mix makes all the sonic elements more in yer- face, slamming & off- kilter.
As for the extras- on the cd we get two great live takes of album tracks, and a even more bass bound & tight Bassnectar Remix of another album track. The 20 page inlay booklet takes in an interesting eight page write-up about the album’s production, it’s context with-in the early 90’s alternative rock scene , etc- this also takes in new interview snippets with all three members of the band. Also featured in the booklet are the albums full lyrics, and both original & remastered credits. The DVD takes in the new 5.1 surround sound version of the album, and this mix is even more in yer-face, with at times elements almost coming sonic 3D like out of the mix. Each of the tracks have visuals too, but these are mostly down to keldoscopic shapes, psychedelic graphics, ect….though there is a rather neat plasticine sequence which animates the cover from the album, though this is only a few minutes long.
On the whole this is a highly deserved reissue of this classic & still fresh sounding slice of alternative rock. With the remixing making the whole thing even more punchy & edgy, and the new linear notes offering interesting in-sights to the albums making & influence