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Underground > Radio & Music >

Don Caballero

03:53 / 14.08.06

I have not heard this album yet, and am trembling at the knees in anticipation. If you haven't heard them yet, Don Caballeroare a 4 piece instrumental act from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA who supposedly "invented" "math rock"... I find this term ridiculous myself, but they seem to have been credited with it's inception all over the net anyway so I will persevere. I prefer the term "Folk Metal"

The music itself has the drum kit as the lead instrument first and foremost, like Trans Am for example. Damon Che's style of playing is very organic, sometimes frenetic and always embodies the essence of rhythm. He is the only member left on this new album after a complete meltdown of relationships with previous members. The new album is said to be a "hat tip" to everything they did in the past. The 4 albums I do own are all regulars on the CD player, ipod and car stereo's 12 months of the year. I really really enjoy this groups output even if Che says the previous works are a little premature. I just hope the new dual guitarists have not swayed to far from the repetetive loops of riffs and triplets that help define their sound for the 5 albums they have put out in the past.

I can only find this on 12" Vinyl at the moment, has anyone heard this yet? Know where to get it on CD? I can't recommend this group enough. If you want distorted guitars and heavy beats then have a listen to "What Burns Never Returns" but if you want a more delicate sounding fair, then you can't go past "American Don". My fav being the latter.

10:22 / 14.08.06

The new album is called 'World Class Listening Problem' and it came out a couple of months ago. It should be widely available, even in Oz, but you can get it direct from Relapse.com as well.

You may be a little disappointed when you first listen to it; it's much closer in spirit to 'For Respect' than the previous two records, for sure -- and while Che's drumming is still the centrepiece, the guitars drive more of the melody and the rhythm.

It's also a lot more 'song'-based than the last few. If you're looking for more of the hypnotic Headrush-pedal interplay of 'American Don', you won't really find it on this one. It's more metal where the previous records have been more jazz, but it's still an anomaly for the Relapse catalogue.

03:52 / 15.08.06

The new album is called 'World Class Listening Problem' and it came out a couple of months ago.

I bought it on the way home yesterday. I rang the local independant music store here and they had it!! That's something that sucks about working all over the place, I have lost touch with so much that used to be my world of music(amongst other things). I could walk into Rockinghorse and the staff there I knew who no longer work there, they knew what I liked and I always had a totally trusted and awesome way of hearing new music. It made me totally lazy oo I guess. Man, I feel a little embarresed about missing this actually, I was usually there on the day with money in fist.

OK, so I thought the first track "mmmmm Acting, I love me some good acting" was a departure from what used to be but that was to be expected as having a new lineup. I expected it, and yes, I thought of a few tracks off "Singles Breaking Up", with "Puddin in my Eye" to be more precise. The second track would have to be my favourite off the entire album, "Sure we had knives around" for it's "American Don" sound. "The Peter Crizz Jazz" would have to be my all time favourite Don Caballero track though.

I am pleased with the result overall, Damon Che really has worked to keep the essence and vibe of what was the Don Caballero sound with the old line-up into the new. I made my mind up halfway through the second round and by the third time through I couldn't help groove when I was walking around the apartment. For me, "world class listening problem" is a two big thumbs up!