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Boud Deun — Astronomy Made Easy
(Cuneiform Rune 91, 1997, CD)

Astronomy Made Easy Cover art

Anything this excellent is hard to review without being reduced to giggles and a sheer state of awe. It’s like how good can you say this is while distinguishing this review from any other? It's clever in all those subtle ways that make you say "Why didn't I think of that?" and deviously humorous in aspects that can only come from a band that gigs their collective asses off. It would feel near profane for me to describe this as "a cross between King Crimson, Mahavishnu, blah blah blah." Yes it’s that good, on so many levels, yet exuding the aura of this being just the beginning of what is currently the hottest USA band around. It’s such an obvious example of how gigging heavily can have such an extreme impact on internal chemistry and how the music plays you and not vice- versa. Progressive? Ah, shut up and hit the continual repeat button! 1997's top release.

by Mike McLatchey, Published 1997-05-01

Young, hungry, and ambitious. That's how I would describe this American quartet who play a rip-roaring, Crimson-inflected set of fusion-on-fire. A youthful vigor that is too busy rampaging its way through intricate instrumental workouts to be self-conscious, or concerned with surface glamour, marks this group's second release. It's been quite some time since an American band that I'm aware of has attempted to do what these guys are doing. (In Britain recently we have seen some explorations along similar lines to Boud Deun — specifically the Groon / Network contingent). What you are usually up against is a simple groove, laden with lots of jamming, the concoction too often mistakenly christened "improvisation." Boud Deun have a certain knack for approaching composition from an angle such that the division between arrangements and improvisation becomes imperceptibly blurred. Case in point: just when you thought the violin was blithely frolicking away on a solo trip through the outer realms, bang! the guitar bursts on the scene and matches him note-for-note. Guitar-slinger Shawn Persinger, works overtime carrying much of the weight of these complex fire-breathing tunes on his shoulders. And the bassist makes Geddy Lee sound like Tony Levin! My biggest quibble is in the violin department. Not that Greg Hiser's playing is anything shy of formidable; it's in the mix where the problem occurs, in that the violin is presented in a manner very closely resembling a guitar, complete with distortion and wah-wah pedal. Thus the music is robbed of what could have been another orchestrational color. Maybe they will explore different approaches with the violin in the future; I hope so, anyway. A whirlwind tour of some of the best America has to offer in jazz-rock fusion, Boud Deun hits with the equivalent adrenaline rush of a demolition derby. This should bring a smile to the faces of many a fan.

by Mike Ezzo, Published 1997-05-01

These guys are all over the place! Is it progressive, punk, polka, prairie, power? (Or whatever their ad for the live show said...) Yes. It's all that and then some. Having already made a name for themselves based on their first album and numerous live performances, Boud Deun makes their Cuneiform debut with Astronomy Made Easy. This band has a very original sound. Sure, certain parts of some pieces sound somewhat like the bands from yesteryear that we all know and love — the Crimsonesque guitar on "Spiders" and the Dregs-sounding violin on "Good King Friday" for example. But just when you think you've figured out where a song is going to next... Boom! Danger, Will Robinson! Where the hell are we?!?! The band changes directions on you. Comparable in intensity at times to bands like Tipographica and Happy Family, Boud Deun are just plain crazy. Unlike so many other bands out there today, these guys aren't predictable. Their rhythms are interesting; the musicianship is solid. The frequent guitar / violin harmony lines are different. The bass playing is the antithesis of normal. Basically, the band has taken some of the best elements of several genres of music and Hamilton Beached them into a fresh sonic package. This is high energy music played in an unusual style by some inventive individuals. Hear for yourself.

by Mike Grimes, Published 1997-05-01

Filed under: New releases, Issue 12, 1997 releases

Related artist(s): Boud Deun, Shawn Persinger (Prester John)

More info
http://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/astronomy-made-easy

 

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