This 5 track ep came out in 2006, so precedes the band's 2007 debut album 'Flight of the Bass Delegate' (also on City Slang).
The Jai Alai Savant (pronounced hi-alie sa-vant in case you were wondering) are a trio based in Chicago. Their driving force Ralph Darden originates from Philadelphia and also operates as DJ Major Taylor.
Darden's African-American heritage largely accounts for the punk to funk sound dominated by bass-heavy beats. Two of the tracks here (Akebono Dub & Mass Trappist Dub) are roots reggae instrumentals.
Aside from the title tune, the remaining songs are the equally eclectically named 'Thunderstatement' and 'Diary of The Mass Trappist'.
Darden writes in an expressionistic style so you can forget about sing-along choruses.
|
"Everyone's addicted to something", he sings, in Thunderstatement and if the ode to Scarlett Johansson is meant as a romantic confessional it's a pretty screwed up one. It opens with the line "sex is war and you're my adversary" and the lyrics are more like the ravings of a stalker than a man in love.
Mostly they come across like the missing link between The Police and TV On The Radio. Not great by any means but with a little less of the former they could be onto something.
|
