Rob Mazurek's Mandarin Movie - Should I go see them?

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I listened to some samples online. A little hard to get a good sense from short clips, but sounds pretty different from any of the other stuff he's done. Also includes Alan Licht on guitar, Matt Lux, and some other dudes I've never heard of. Sounds pretty noisy and different from most of the other stuff he's done. Also playing is another of his projects, Sao Paolo Underground.

(this is all in Philly, Nov. 13, btw)

― Hurting (Hurting), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 01:14 (twenty years ago)

why do people always ask whether they should go see something? go, it's probably not expensive, and if it sucks you can leave. sheesh.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 01:18 (twenty years ago)

Well, actually it's a situation where I'm playing a show in Philly Saturday night and may or may not crash to hang with friends next day, and even if I do I don't know if I want to stay until that night to see the show (unless it's worth seeing). Dig?

― Hurting (Hurting), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 01:37 (twenty years ago)

But under normal circumstances I sort of agree with you. I mean if it's a 10-15 dollar show and it's in your hometown, yeah, wtf. Why not go?

― Hurting (Hurting), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 01:44 (twenty years ago)

dude, unless you're paying me to care about your life, i really don't care about your life. dig?

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 03:36 (twenty years ago)

Well I'm not really asking you to care about my life, friend. I'm asking if you or anyone else has heard this band and if they're any good. Get some sleep, you seem cranky.

― Hurting (Hurting), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 03:38 (twenty years ago)

i'm fine, and well rested. i doubt many people have heard this band since they're, like, brand-spankin' new. as for scheduling issues, you're on your own there, sorry.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 03:40 (twenty years ago)

i actually typed up a belated review of their record last night.

ill post it later and email a link.

but, i'd go..they rip pretty seriously on the short pieces. at times its almost metal, but not in that annoying skronk-jazz way.

― bb (bbrz), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 12:53 (twenty years ago)

lux is the key to this band. his bass work is dam,ned impresive. the record features some serious processed and slicing guitar work from alan licht.

i can't say i have been a fan of isotope or any of that chicago scene stuff, but this record is definately worht checking out. though the last track is too long, too chilled to hold water next to the shorted heavily layered lunacy that sets the thing off.

― bb (bbrz), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 12:56 (twenty years ago)

id be interested int he brazilian project too. hes evidently living there now.

― bb (bbrz), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 12:57 (twenty years ago)

Thanks. That was exactly the sort of response I was hoping to get when I posted this thread. I appreciate it.

― Hurting (Hurting), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 13:46 (twenty years ago)

this really isn't an appropriate place to talk about music, dude.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

Go! go! go! I wish Mr Mazurek would come to London soon, don't know when he last made it. From the interview in Signal To Noise, sounds like the band won't be a long term thing, or at least infrequent. http://www.eleventhvolume.com/reviews/cds/files/mandarin_movie.html

― 11v, Tuesday, 25 October 2005 18:43 (twenty years ago)

Go. I reviewed Mandarin Movie album for XLR8R here: http://xlr8r.com/reviews.php?uid=79A5490F794E233191B6242CAE5C5F7B

Forgive my restraint...

― Dave Segal (Da ve Segal), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 01:00 (twenty years ago)

Sweet. I think I shall go then.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 01:02 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone heard the Brazilian project?

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 01:07 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

I actually heard the Sao Paolo Underground (the Brazilian project) in Chicago last weekend and it was really interesting. Once the trio began, they never stopped (at least in the hour that I was there), but their music subtley changed moods throughout. They used a lot of electronic equipment, including a video screen behind them, and worked in percussion and Portuguese vocalizations over the electronic sounds. On top of these textures, the cornestist did general jazz/blues improvistions and riffs, sometimes with a hint of Latin American flavor. It was cool, experimental, and pretentious as Hell.

― mastimusik, Friday, 11 November 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

I'm not going to get to go - have to be back early Sunday evening. But everyone should come to our show at Pontiac Grille.

― Hurting (Hurting), Friday, 11 November 2005 21:46 (twenty years ago)

fifteen years pass...

i was psyched reading this thread to revive it being like "well how was the show???" but the last post ruins it, thanks a lot

the new record w. his "exploding star orchestra" is real good! kind of intl anthem all-star band (or modern chicago all-star, idk), wide ranging accessible jams.

― adam, Saturday, 28 November 2020 18:41 (five years ago)

four years pass...

huh, he did the score to the new Kelly Reichardt film!

― jaymc, Saturday, 24 May 2025 19:00 (one year ago)

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