ARTICLES
Listening Post: E. Honig
Label Profile: Ad Noiseam

ALBUMS
Leo Abrahams
Ammoncontact
Anka
Lloyd Barrett
Beach House
Bibio
Christina Carter
Davis & Jerman
Ecstatic Sunshine
Ensemble
Fluorescent Grey
Freiband
[guÿôm]
Chris Herbert
Home Video
Larvae
Lullabye Arkestra
Mathieu / Schaefer
MONO & w. end girlfriend
My Robot Friend
Nicolay
Pieter Nooten
Nuccini
Obfusc
Objekt4
Over the Atlantic
Para One
Proem
Red Sparowes
The Remote
Root 70
Florencia Ruiz
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Alan Sparhawk
Andy Stott
Thumbtack Smoothie
Tortoise
Triosk
Vlor

COMPILATIONS/MIXES
Ad Noiseam 2001-2006
Another Generic Sampler
Bip-Hop Generation 8
Diary of a Sweet Day
Idea Hoard Uncut
Innature
Morrow Choral Orchestra
Noise Factory Vol. 3
Squadron 2
Warp Works

3"/7"/10"/12"/EPs
Alias & Tarsier
Audion
Caroline
Home Video
Iz & Diz
Sami Koivikko
Mai
Mathhead
Monomachine
Narcotic Syntax
Quinoline Yellow
Sigur Rós
Samartzis & English
Samartzis & Inada
Andy Vaz
Andy Vaz Remixes
Waterprotection

Lullabye Arkestra: Ampgrave
Constellation

In the absence of accompanying details, Ampgrave's opening moments could suggest the listener's in for a set of organ and string music recorded at a Montreal chapel. Don't be deceived: the grinding guitar and wailing chorus (a so-called 10-voice ‘Chorus Oblivia') that cacophonously erupts shortly thereafter in “Unite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” represents more accurately the Lullabye Arkestra's uproarious sound in general and Ampgrave in particular. The group itself is actually a bass (Katia Taylor) and drum (Justin Small) duo augmented here by electric tenor banjo player Martin Arnold and drummer Nick Fraser with additional noise courtesy of Do Make Say Think's horn section, organist, Shelton Deverell, and violinist Jule Penner. “All I Can Give Ya” alternates reserved blues passages with massive horn-laden choruses capped by a Joplinesque wail while “Nation of Two” recalls LA band X at its most aggressive. Taylor 's fuzz bass leads the lurching charge in “Hold On” before the tune explodes into caterwauling refrains and call-and-response wailing. An occasional moment of calm stabilizes the ship (the lullaby “Come Out, Come Out”) but, more often than not, the group opts for a ferocious instrumental attack. Sounding sometimes like Red-era King Crimson hijacked to Hades, Ampgrave's lethal punk'n'roll is capable of inducing a fatal heart attack or two.

October 2006