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Reviews

Boom — One Hour Talisman
(Cuneiform Rune 96, 1997, CD / DL)

by Dan Casey, Published 1998-02-01

One Hour Talisman Cover art

Here is an album that first requires you to understand the Boom approach before you can learn to love it. The formula is simple, in fact almost deceptively so. Electric guitar, bass, and drums. That's it. Don't ask for more, just deal with it. Don't pay attention to all those "power trio" references either, that's not what's happening here. The recording is very clean and simple, almost a 3-track live-in-the-studio approach. But the music is far from simple. With a very original blend of acid-jazz, free-rock, and even a dash of the RIO school of thought, Boom have defined their territory clearly. In many ways, One Hour Talisman reminds me of Boud Deun's latest. The musicianship is so solid that once you learn the tunes, you won't care about the stripped down approach or the redundant guitar and bass tones that are employed on tune after tune after tune. The most signature element to their sound is the quivering half-distorted guitar leads which make ample use of vibrato and/or the whammy bar. But once you get past the fact that every tune is built from the same set of building blocks the album really begins to shine. It's the notes themselves that Boom emphasizes, and for that they should be commended. It's funky, it's brash, it grooves, and is well worth it.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 14, 1997 releases

Related artist(s): Boom

More info
http://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/one-hour-talisman

 

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