The Perfect Rat – Endangered Languages
(Alone Records/The Stone Circle)
The Perfect Rat – Endangered Languages
(Alone Records/The Stone Circle)
From Aural Innovations #38 (Jan 2008)
This is a very special line-up! Mario Lalli, Gary Arce and Bill Stinson are
well know musicians from the desert rock scene and bands like fatso Jetson,
Yawing Man and Ten East and involved with all the fame-boys like Josh Homme
and Brant Bjork. Beside these guys you have Greg Ginn on bass (Yes, Black Flag
and SST), Tony Atherton (Mojacks) on sax and Jack Brewer (Saccharine Trust)
doing spoken words and poetry! Everything is the result of some jam sessions
held back in 2005 and is now out on Alone Records. So what came out of this
special blend of musicians? Well, a jazzy bass and rocking drum lays the ground
for Mario and Gary’s guitars that simply floats all over spreading a patchwork
of heavy psych. The saxophone adds to the jazzy feel and mixes fine with the
guitar work and on top is Jack Brewers strange nervous and weird voice delivering
lyrics by L.A. poets Steve Abee, Florence Raush Ehlers, Dennis Cruz, as well
as one of his own. It’s a very beautiful record reminding of Dan McGuire’s
Jamnation although the vocal is less harsh and the music is more relaxed and
jazzy. Wow, there’s always something interesting going on in the desert!
Check the band's web sites at:
http://www.myspace.com/theperfectrat
Visit the record label web site at: http://www.the-stone-circle.com
Reviewed by Tom Knudsen