There isn't actually much harmonica in this record. It's so good, however, that I felt like reviewing it for the world out there, just in case someone is reading this.
ScrapOmatic was originally a New York City based duo composed of singer Mike Mattison and guitarist Paul Olsen. It's my understanding that they now play with a tuba player and a drummer as well. Their first, self-titled album, however, is a full band exercise and benefits from a fine instrumentation under the supervision of producer John Snyder.
Why mention the producer, you ask ? Well, it may not count for much in many cases, but I believe it does here. John Snyder has a list of credits as long as my right arm, featuring names as prestigious as Ornette Coleman, Dave Brubeck, Robert Lockwood Jr, and Charles Brown. A few years ago, dispirited by the orientation taken by the music industry, he created a non profit independent label named Artists House. This label records artists, known or lesser-known, with a great freedom of interpretation but with a quality both in terms of recording conditions (session musicians, studios, etc.) and production (packaging, accompanying DVD, etc.) that equals the best majors.
That being said, let’s talk about ScrapOmatic. If you absolutely had to pin them down to a musical genre, you would most likely find them in the ‘rhythm n' blues’ section of your record store, but that’s ‘rhythm n' blues’ in the noble sense of the word, the R&B of the 60s. Mike Mattison's voice is evidently in that vein, warm and slightly veiled, with an impressive range from a cute falsetto to a mean bluesy growl. Paul Olsen’s guitar work is most likely more forward in their habitual live formula, but here it is subtle and mostly in accompaniment rather than fiery improvisation.
Before going into more detail about the music, I wanted to mention the backing band put together to support these two excellent musicians. John Snyder hired the cream of Louisiana session musicians, locked them in a rural studio for a week with ScrapOmatic, and the result is a gumbo with a strong ‘soul’ favor but distinct aftertastes of New Orleans blues and jazz. Any cook will tell you that too many different spices are likely to kill the dish, but Snyder’s reputation is not overblown : he’s a hell of a cook. The various perfumes here mix well, without cancelling each other up, and the result is one of my favorite musical discoveries this year.
The album opens on what is most likely its best original tune , the soulful Moanin’, a story of a cowardly man, some women and a green card. If Mike’s work with the Derek Trucks Band wasn’t reason enough to consider him an exceptional vocalist, this tune alone would blow away any doubts. Plaintive and warm, with just the hint of irony required by the lyrics, it is simply perfect. There's a mix of lazy Louisiana feel and hints of Mediterranean music which blend superbly to support and enhance the vocal performance.
The second track is a very different but just as powerful cover of Mississipi John Hurt’s, Let the Mermaids Flirt with Me. The arrangement is heavily New Orleans, and gives it just the right kind of pulse : a lazy, languorous feel, for a cynical song about what happens after we die…
Ten more tracks follow, flirting with soul-pop (like Bubblegum Song, sung entirely falsetto), delving deep within the soul genre, like the growling Lovefreak, or acknowledging the blues influence, like the aptly named Apocalypse Blues, on which Slide Guitar genius Sonny Landreth gives a hand. There'a a nice piece if harp playing on there as well, in this elusive style that most accomplished players can't do anymore, a sort of 'not quite mastered but sounding great nonetheless' approach.
The record is steadily good and concludes on an exceptionally funky Can you help me ?, which ends as a pure New Orleans homage. In fact, if the sleeve notes didn't tell me otherwise, I’d swear it was the Dirty Dozen Brass Band backing!
When the album is over, you’re in a quietly joyful mood, that kind of lazy southern feel that life is worth taking your time. You also feel that these guys, hopefully, will go somewhere, because not only do they deserve it, but this first opus is serious credentials already. Incidentally, it’s pleasant to hear young guys doing genuine ‘soul’, far from the dumbed down and overproduced garbage that passes as ‘soul’ these days. And to top it all, the CD is released with an accompanying DVD that chronicles the studio recording, with interviews, commentaries, mp3s and sheet music, at no extra cost. What more could you want?
And the best thing about this particular review, is that you don’t have to trust me. Just go to the Artists House webpage, click on the album cover, launch the mp3 player there, and you can listen to five full tracks and form your own opinion. You can also find additional info on the band on their website www.scrapomatic.com
Fantastic review! Thanks for sharing it with us on the dTb List Serve.
I guess if I ever need to find a good harmonica record, I'll come here.
Posted by: Brandon Ray | November 24, 2004 at 05:12 PM