THE LONESOME ORGANIST
Cavalcade (Thrill Jockey)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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A lovely little steel drum ditty opens the latest percussive excursion by the one man band by the name of Lonesome Organist. Percussion yes, for the piano is nothing but a well disguised drum, and whether he's tinkling gently on said beast, or grooving mightily on a bluesy organ, or wearing the heck outta his tap shoes, our hero has the gift of the beat. Walking a fine tightrope line between delicate and meaty, "Cavalcade" is the instrumental cocktail of 1999: sumptuous, refreshing, yet packing a surprise wallop. Forget all those turntable tricksters, here's a man dishing out vital sounds that will soothe the savage beast in any century. Old timey sounds mix with the new as analogue shoves digital aside in a no contest. Is that a harpsichord? A toy piano? An accordion? Oh what fun to be had in this carnival of sorts. Oh and don't pass up the delicious dusty spaghetti western soundscape (Dirty Plight) where a (gasp) vocal intrusion can be heard. Talent and vision never sounded this friendly.

© 1999 - John Sekerka