MANDAÏ DISTRIBUTION - independent music distributor
Copyright : 2002-2026
| SEARCH | |
| BROWSE BY | |
|
- Artists - Labels - Formats - Styles - Mid prices - Last items - LP - 10in - 7in - Mandaï Gift Vouchers |
|
| NEWSLETTER | |
|
- Subscribe |
|
| LOGIN | |
|
Sign in or Register. |
|
| CONCERTS | |
| 24/03/2026 Fabiola @ Le Cobra Jaune | |
| 27/03/2026 Lean Left @ Blikfabriek | |
| 27/03/2026 Garance Midi @ Super Fourchette | |
| 28/03/2026 Mmuurr @ Rockerill | |
| 28/03/2026 Radiator Pirelmans @ Rockerill | |
| 16/04/2026 Zu @ Wilde Western | |
| More concerts ... | |
| NEWS | |
| 11/03/2026 Last days for pre-ordering Aymeric Lerçoy's book ogver the Canterburry scene. | |
| 09/03/2026 Working on new releases | |
| 19/02/2026 Dazzling Killmen euro tour announced ! | |
| 13/02/2026 Point Line Plane (Skin Graft Records / US) is back on the tracks - CD available. | |
| More news ... | |
| FEEDBACKS | |
|
n... (France) Service excellent !! Merci de nous servi... |
|
|
S... (Sweden) Arrived fast and in great condition!... |
|
|
j... (Finland) My 2PinDin order arrived in beautiful co... |
|
| More feedbacks ... | |
| DESCRIPTION | ||
 | CAPILLARY ACTION Capsized Label : Natural Selection Records Year : 2011 Format : CD Style : Rock Availability : In stock Price : 14.50 € - BUY | |
| Description : | Capillary action is a physical phenomenon in which liquid rises against gravity. For instance, if you have a small puddle on your kitchen counter and put the edge of a paper towel in it while holding the towel vertically, water will spread up the towel. In the most basic sense, capillary action is liquid moving in an unexpected direction. This is what makes it an effective name for Jonathan Pfeffer's band-- unexpected directions are at the root of Pfeffer's songwriting, which is partly predicated on defying the momentum of uninterrupted 4/4 rhythms. We used to call what he does math rock, but that's not quite adequate to cover all the weird jazz elements the latest lineup of the band brings in, or the way he and the band tease listeners with bits of surprisingly poppy melody before yanking out the rug. The opening couplet of the second verse on the album, 'It's agreed that this is a suicide mission/ But we're past the point of no return now', feels almost like a private joke between band and listener-- by the time we hit it, we've already swerved through a couple of time signatures, a few start-stops, and a breakneck prog-funk groove, and it's clear that this is not a relaxing album. That won't be a surprise to people familiar with the band, but the way they go about it will. Whereas 2008's So Embarrassing often reverted to brutal, punk-inspired noise rock as a sort of punctuation mark, those outbursts are largely curtailed here, in favor of sophisticated vocal harmony and passages that borrow from free jazz. Pfeffer also leaves his electric guitar in the case, sticking to a nylon-stringed acoustic, while the band is built around upright bass, drums, trumpet, and accordion. Thing is, I didn't even notice the lack of electric guitar until the third time I listened to the album. The band wrings remarkable volume and aggression out of its setup, due partly to the fact that Dan Sutherland's drums are recorded with a heavy emphasis on the low end. They snap like you're in the room with them, which makes songs like album highlight 'Feeding Frenzy' sound explosive. On that song, the drums are augmented by a battery of other percussion, including gongs, woodblocks, and handbells. In fact, there's not a single non-percussion instrument on the song other than voices, but again, it doesn't call attention to its novelty. Not everything works as well. Sometimes a weird rhythm just sounds weird-- 'Sweepstakes' has what sounds like a pre-composed vocal melody that doesn't really agree with the lyrics, and it makes for an awkward vocal. A band that pushes itself out of usual rock comfort zones as unflinchingly as Capillary Action is almost inevitably going to have moments that don't work as well as others, though. It's being willing to take those risks and succeeding most of the time that makes them a good band, and Capsized a good album. (Joe Tangari, Pitchfork) Produced by Jonathan Pfeffer. Engineered by Robert Cheek in Minocqua, Wisconsin Sept-Oct 2010. Editing & additional tracking by Devin Kerr at Good Hertz in Ann Arbor, Michigan Oct. 2010. Mixed by Robert Cheek at the Hangar in Sacramento, California Nov. 2010. Mastered by Devin Kerr Nov. 2010. | |
| Press : | Music in Belgium (FR - Thirionet - 10/05/2011) | |
