All Over the Place
by Anders Griffen
Reviewed by Michael Lynn
(23/3/2003)
Background
I received this CD from Brad on the 8th March 2003. I have heard Anders Griffen before, he played on some of the songs by Jeffrey Lewis and Seth from Dufus on the AntiFolk European Tour 2002 and as part of The Bundles with Jeffrey Lewis and Kimya Dawson. I remember him playing the drums on More Girl Cops. Some of the songs on this album were played between performances while they were doing sound checks. This is his first solo album.
First impression
First, the cover and cover notes are shiny and very
professionally made. The hand written track list on the back
is a bit hard to follow, but after listening to the album and
reading the cover notes it is all clear. The CD contains 31
tracks and is over 70 minutes long. Immediately, excellent
value for money.
In the cover notes it is revealed that 19 musicians perform in
total on this album. The result is a varied album showing great
range of musical ability. The overall mood is easy going.
Highlights
These tracks are indicated because they are milestones
in the album for me:
Track 1 is a jazz track with partial voice messages from
an answering machine over-dubbed. This sets the scene
for the rest of the album. To allow the listener to
concentrate on the music the rest of the album alternates
between songs and messages from the answering
machine. Some of the songs on the album tell individual
stories or people's experiences.
Track 3, Kids, sounds a little like the song Postcards by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. It is an everyday, timeless experience. The gentle female singing voice of Regina Spektor tells us what she can see through her eyes and it is beautiful.
Track 5, Revolutionary, is unexpected because it is a rap song. It uses a bass drum to emphasise certain words. Although this is a common technique it is used to emphasise the message clearly. It sounds similar to, but it is better than, Pin The Tail On The Donkey by Naughty By Nature ('I got more hooks than a fish line').
Track 8 before he says 'I'm leaving now' is the strangest dialog on the album! You must hear this, I don't know what the guy is talking about but it sounds good.
Track 9, Be Prepared, a song titled used by several other albums sounds similar to a tune used in the film Bullitt. It sounds urgent, but so cool.
Track 12, Bedouin, sounds almost classical. It uses violin, bassoon, bass and French horn. By contrast a guy human beat boxing on track 13 is totally bizarre.
Track 21, 20.10, is a simple, beautiful, almost melancholy tune played on piano but it is quickly followed by an uplifting tune.
Track 29, What am I doing, starts as a gentle, moving tune full of doubt but turns into a cool mix of the whole album. Track 30, Finale, is a beautiful piece played on a flute and bass with lovely gentle percussion.
Summary
Although the songs and the start of the album deal with people in a city, this idea is not carried throughout the album. The jazz tunes are the main part of the album and the rap artist is one voice, the lone female voice on Track 3 (Kids) is another. The answering machine messages are provided for light-entertainment and allows the listener to reflect on what they have heard. Perhaps they are a true reflection of the hectic life of the musician. This enriches the album and suggests that it is not so much all over the place, but it somehow all fits together and works out itself.
Interludes
The answering machine messages separates the music nicely to allow the listener to collect his or her thoughts. It is unclear if it is the intention to have a train of thought through the whole album. If there is an intentional train of thought, then is the pattern also present in the order of the music?
The hero, I think, is one guy trying to arrange his demo tape. One guy who has mis-dialed Taco Supreme and got through to Anders instead! This is mainly a jazz album and the vocals are straight from the heart of a city but some tunes sound classical. This is unexpected. If we listen to the messages continuously on their own then the time-frame would be over a couple of days.
Conclusion
If jazz is "delicious hot, disgusting cold" then this is a flame-grilled meat feast! I like it very much.
Most of these songs have been composed for a complete band to play, and not a single instrument. This album clearly demonstrates that Anders is a fine jazz musician and musical arranger. It is a credit to everyone who contributed. Excellent work.
Listen really closely to track 31, it is intense. If it is a sign of things to come then we are in for more delights! Will the next album continue from where this one left off?
