Now that everything is available and anything is possible, genuinely progressive, cosmopolitan musicians seem forced to chose between cognitive overload or defensive self limitation. A mess of riches? Or a defeat by minimalism?
Chicago's ICY DEMONS seem to have ignored the dilemma. MIAMI ICE subsume TORTOISE, , TOM TOM CLUB, KRAFTWRRK, HOT CHIP, MINGUS, Samba and KŌJI KONDŌ and they do it with no trace of archness, indulgence or self congratulation. More importantly, they do it with a great dollop of fun and without losing the plot for a moment.
MIAMI ICE (I am not surprised to learn) is a third album for ICY DEMONS. Griffin Rodriguez (AKA BLUE HAWAII) is the central point. A wealth of individual experience is drawn into the generous bounds. Co-founder Chris Powell and pedigree musicians Jeff Parker, Josh Abrams, Tomaka Reid and Russell Higbee all contribute. In true Chicago Underground style the touring band has a different line-up.
The CD streams along with a wonderfully relaxed confidence. Archaic keyboard sounds are revitalised with syncopation that electro pop just doesn't do. On a first skim through, this easy delivery could pass as MOR - in pop and roll we usually expect our musicians to be grunting and grimacing with the effort of staying on the beat (or nailed in with robotic programming). ICY DEMONS smile and shift it around in wicked fashion. The more you listen the more there is to hear.
"Buffalo Bill" makes a racing start, with riffs, harmonies and rhythms piling in and out too fast to follow. "Miami Ice" has the mighty pop riff and the goofy lyric that's a million miles from current pop and slap bang in the middle of what pop should be. "1850" is a texture feast for anyone who loves the noises that machines can surprise you with.
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"Summer Samba" has a terrific three part harmony vocal and a seductively Brazilian rhythm. "Jantar Mantar" follows the trail into more complex uplands, Deeeeelicious. "Who There" is some kind of monophonic one octave keyboard with a fault. It's 64 seconds minute of disorientation and then we're into prog-lite "Spywatchers" and two magnificent tracks to close: the melodically rich "Centurion", is packed full of retro effects and the funky groove of "Crittin Down to Baba's" cannot be not danced to. Gigs should explode right here.
C'mon Bloc Party fans - this is what you think you've been hearing. This is the real Carmen Miranda. How come America, being the dumbest nation on earth has all the most accomplished, entertaining, witty, grown-up pop musicians? Maybe it's their rapacious theft of all the best of Europe, Africa and anywhere else they fancy?
www.icydemons.com
www.myspcae.com/icydemons
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