Start HERE! (if you haven't already)Hoo boy, we've got a live one here - this 1986 release is one of Zoogz Rift's most confrontational releases, and not necessarily one I'd recommend to those of you new to Rift's weird world. It features more non-musical tracks (almost like skits) then usual, and some of Rift's most pained, ranting vocals.
The opening track sports The Amazing Shithead's new toy - a sampler. But rather then looping James Brown break-beats, we've got various voices screaming obscenities, in particular, a woman shouting out: "It's the island of living puke, you ASSHOLE!," over noise/ free music. It's almost as if Rift is daring the audience to continue listening. But don't wuss out!
The title track follows, and it's a swell bit of haunted-house keyboard-driven punkishness. "A Very Pretty Song For A Very Special Young Lady" almost lives up to it's title until the douche-bag from the "Ipecac" song "Sit Down and Shut Up" returns...and returns again on "Nightclub Sequence," where this time band member John Trubee gets a rare vocal - not singing, but acting in a skit (and, yes, he did include prank phone calls on his solo releases). "The Mo-Fo's Are After Me" would almost be laid-back jazz-rock were it not for the anguished paranoid vocals.
"Torture Sequence" is simply a litany of voices complaining about Rift, and it's followed by "You're Killing Me," a great bit of New Wave From Hell, featuring some zany synths and drums machines (another new toy). "The Secret Marines" is dada spoken word + Zappa-esque horn rock.
In "Shiver Me Timbers," an album highlight, and "Escape From The Island Of Living Puke," the band gets down to utterly wacked-out (mostly) instrumental business - spazz-rock at it's finest.
"The Breather" is - hey, whatdoyaknow! - a downright catchy hummable melody, with philosophical lyrics, and a synth solo that sounds like doorbells ringing. And who's "I'm Happy" came first, Zoogz' or Ivor Cutler's?
It can all be a bit startling at first, but repeat listens reveal the humor and musical brilliance.
Zoog Rift - The Island of Living Puke
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10 comments:
Link?
oops! thanks J., it's up now.
Awesome! Thanks so much sir!
These albums have been fun.
Thanks so much for sharing them!
This was the first Rift thing I heard, having bought it from a store liquidation sale eons ago.
For some reason, Torture Sequence remains a favorite:"What does YOUR husband do for a living...?"
These Zoogz posts have been AWESOME! I never would have discovered this on my own, and I've been listening...laughing...enjoying immensely. Thank you!
I'm loving this stuff, thank you so much for intoducing me to the wonderfully warped world of Zoogz Rift.
More more more!
WHOO HOO, More ZOOGZ!
please, up again!
Thanks, my friend!!!!
This was my first ever ZR cassette - can you please repost, and send me an email notification at vimanaboy @ yahoo dot com? I am super excited to find such a glorious treasure trove of his brilliantly demented music- thank you!
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