Bulbul - s/t (3) [Trost - 2003]Avant-rock, art-rock ? Whatever… 4th studio album for the austrian band, and what an excellent collection of songs ! I had never heard of Bulbul until very recently when I read they were being compared to The Melvins. Being a fan of all things heavy, slow and crushing, I got myself a copy and it was with some excitement that I put it in the stereo and quickly discovered that this album was very varied, never dull, often compelling. I yellow sea sounds like a twisted, totally fucked-up country song, while XX reminds me of some Lightning Bolt stuff, only less frantic and with some heavy guitars à la Neurosis. Two white male fays is made up of drone, feedback and eerie samples. Lost the loot sounds like a lo-fi version of Out Hud, a cool bass line over programmed beats, keys and weird noises and by the end, some voices. Very good, oh yes... Where the satellites shine seems to be a poor recording of some lo-fi singer/guitarist helped by backing vocalists and a harmonica, the whole lot playing in some goddamn tunnel. F 10.00 is very Melvins, very sludgey, with long feedbacks monolithic riffs, dirty and noisy solo’s and a sick drummer. Kickass stuff... This Bulbul CD makes for an excellent listen and sees them becoming one of the most interesting acts in out-there noisy rock. I want more and I shall make myself very clear: it’d better come soon or else... François Monti
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