Friday, January 11, 2008

TOMAHAWK – ANONYMOUS (IPECAC RECORDINGS)


TOMAHAWK – ANONYMOUS (IPECAC RECORDINGS)

Returning from his stint as/with Peeping Tom, here Mike Patton reconvenes his masterful lineup and literal supergroup. I was under the impression that Tomahawk was one of the more conventional (good) acts Mike Patton has been involved with since beginning Ipecac but this album would suggest otherwise it would seem.

You do feel cheated after historically Tomahawk tracks such as “God Hates A Coward” have been as close Patton has come to sounding like Faith No More on any of his new projects and with the Peeping Tom record being a real return to form, for me much was expected from this record.

Unfortunately the title Tomahawk appears to have been taken too literally as what has been served appears to be some kind of alt rock marching album built around the concept of war. And not even a modern war by the sounds of it! Maybe it was even recorded in an Anderson shelter.

Major gripes aside, despite not being a party record it is fairly atmospheric and almost cinematic in its motion. There is no disputing that Patton has one of the greatest voices of the modern rock age and that is probably the main recurring theme on this record as everything aside feels like something of a border or frame for the centre piece that are his vocals (and not necessarily his lyrics). It is a dark and brooding sounding record, one that is always going to be tough to listen to if you are not currently of such a mindset.

Ultimately frustrating to the point a person has to concede defeat, tracks such as “Red Fox” and “Totem” lend some much appreciated blasts of energy and coherence, the remainder of the album is overwhelmed and bogged down with obstinate behaviour, commendable on one level but not for a group coming from such a grand legacy of mind-blowing output.

One last listen just reveals some kind of sick lounge record of indulgence and experimentation. There was no fanfare in the theme of Tales Of The Unexpected.

Still, I might grow to love it.

Thesaurus moment: deflate.

Tomahawk
Ipecac Recordings

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