author: pompus
"A good album reviewer, it is said, is as efficient at placing an artist in an established genre as a tenured librarian is at placing a Dewey-decimalized book on its proper shelf. What confidence I had in my reviewing abilities before I received this debut album from Seattle's Skinwalkers was just denied renewal. "Citing influences from Ray Davies to his Navajo heritage to Middle-Eastern folk music, John Feodorov - Skinwalkers' guitarist, vocalist, organist, accordion player, and songwriter - would seem to subscribe to the salad bowl as opposed to the melting pot theory of our modern society. The components in this most-tasty debut do not muddle and leach flavors from one another like some sort of over-boiled, middle-American soup. Rather, from song to song, you will find fresh and distinct sonic tidbits that stimulate your aural palette in ways Feodorov's declared influences would lead you to expect, but also in ways that suggest this five-piece had a number of secret ingredients when it went into the studio. From Feodorov's David Byrne-ish vocals on "Returning", to the Boiled In Lead, medieval touches of "The Song of Babylon", to Gina Salá doing vocals on one of the prettiest songs I've heard in ages, "In The Sunlight", your appetite will not only be gratified, but you will feel well-traveled when this album is done playing. So sit back and enjoy. For my part - although I would welcome another category-defying surprise like this - I'm going to go investigate the tuition and schedules for some remedial genre courses. I must maintain some vestige of Professional ability if I am to keep this gig."Ned Rust, The Rocket 1996
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author: pompus
Fax Sheet Five "A very appealing Seattle-based quintet that takes their inspiration from roots-oriented worldbeat but produce something totally modern and cutting edge. I particularly like the organic quality of the disc, capturing something that's truly alive and vital."
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