Date: Wed, 30 Nov 1994 09:38:22 -0500
From: terremt@mail.med.cornell.edu (Terre Thaemlitz)
Subject: YELLO: zebra
okay, although my gary numan and depeche mode collections drop off in the
late 80's, i still buy yello records. whereas the last few albums were real
hit'n'miss, featuring the occassional mega-fierce track and then a bunch of
crap [I haven't met a latina drag queen yet who doesn't go wild over "on
the run" from _baby_], _zebra_ is all relatively on the same level and
overall listenable. but aside from meier's distinctive voice, this record
didn't have to be made by yello [with an opening track called "suite 909"
can you guess what it sounds like? *cough* . . *hack* . . *rolandgear*].
blank seems to have abandoned his orchestrated over-productions and densely
layered latin and tribal rhythms for straight ahead four-on-the-floor
stomping, 303, and hammond riffs. one of the tracks, "how how (premix)" is
even in turbo-rave[tm] mode. "foom shanka," blank's only attempt at a moody
instrumental track this time around, breaks the routine somewhat by
introducing his more heavily produced sound. meier's vocals are, well,
tired as expected - paraphrasing tracks from previous albums. but there's
no "assistant's cry" here.
_zebra_ is undoubtedly yello's most consistent and marketable cd in
a long time, and therefore will hopefully bring some new attention to these
pioneers. but there is nothing innovative here. if their previous
productions were technicolor chameleons, this is exactly what it states - a
black and white zebra.
Terre Thaemlitz
terremt@med.cornell.edu
http://www2.med.cornell.edu/~terremt/Thaemlitz.html
ambient poetry sucks