Black Cherry Acid Lab

Chronique

Recorded between 1996-1998, this mini-CD features more of Dave Fiuczynski's adrenaline charged, electric guitar wizardry. Yet, the not so good news -- perhaps for some of his ardent admirers -- relates to the inordinate doses of off-color rap featured on many of these works. Therefore, the band elicits the sounds and vibes of an angst-ridden urban metropolis throughout Black Cherry Acid Lab. Fiuczynski and co. meld funk, soul, blues, and hard rock with a crash-and-burn manifesto, amid some fiery and altogether complex time signatures. Fiuczynski and saxophonist Mark Shim execute roughly hewn unison lines to complement the singer's uptempo vocalism and raps. Other than the leader and bassist Patrice Blanchard, all the musicians featured here perform on selected tracks. Fiuczynski's mock-Gregorian chant signifies a playfully sacrilegious episode on the piece titled "Bollocks" -- where the band intertwines speed metal with tacky, funk grooves. Simply put, there's a lot of calamity and boisterous soloing here.
© Glenn Astarita /TiVo