VARIOUS ARTISTS
Sounds Eclectic (PalmPicture Records)
Reviewed by Rusty Pipes

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This is another KCRW compilation that features tracks recorded live on one of the country's best radio shows, Morning Becomes Eclectic, and was produced by its host Nic Harcourt.

Everything here was recorded before noon and the bands are mostly in a spare, stripped-down acoustic format. It's all recorded in KCRW's usual ultra-clean 2 track stereo direct-to-air mix and it's something to behold.

The album starts with a Yo-Yo Ma playing a short piece by Bach, as if KCRW is an all classical music station (it isn't), but his sweet cello simply sets the tone for a wonderfully understated musical voyage of discovery into the un-pop- charted territory of today's best bands and solo artists.

Among the newer faces are Badly Drawn Boy, David Gray, the Supreme Beings Of Leisure and Bebel Gilberto. I think my favorite of the newer ones is the Dandy Warhols, whose song "Country Leaver" comes unbidden into my head now after a couple listenings. Some very well known folks are here also: Willie Nelson, Patti Smith and Beck. Beck, especially, reminds us just how well he can handle solo acoustic performance with a country blues number, "Lonesome Whistle."

Sounds Eclectic is relentlessly delicate, with hardly any drums or electric guitar. The album closes by returning to a pure instrumental form like its opening, a lovely solo piano piece by Ryuichi Sakamoto, "Energy Flow."

It could be called Sounds Subtle just as easily. Sounds Eclectic is a pleasure to have playing in your house, like having an old friend over for an interesting conversation. You will find the songs here growing on you with each listen.

© 2001 - Rusty Pipes