Stromba started out as the sample-based duo of James
Dyer and Tom Tyler. However, even inattentive listening
to this debut album would reveal the presence of a living,
breathing band, which lends a distinct, earthy edge
to proceedings. Tales From The Sitting Room
begins with James Nye’s mournful saxophone, which
is soon joined by arcing violin, vibes, and brushed
percussion, which give the track a Middle Eastern flavour,
echoed by its humorous title, Camel Spit. There
is a hypnotic, melodic quality to the music that’s
very attractive. Septic Skank stumbles into
digital dub territory, powered along by some fine bass
and embellished just once by the crowing of a cockerel
in true Dr Alimantado style. Invisible Stink
is more notably programmed with tribal breakbeats and
seething atmospheres, though it is also blessed with
lazy guitar chords that quickly rally into grooviness.
Giddy Up follows in its predecessor’s
slipstream, cutting a groove that keeps going for the
duration accompanied by funk brass and conga drums.
Swamp Donkey wanders into a Balinese temple,
soaks up the atmosphere and has a good look around before
teleporting off to the Louisiana swamps.
There’s a trippy, dreamy quality to Tales
From The Sitting Room that is informed by dub,
pyschedelia and numerous musics from around the globe.
The press release indicates that much of the album was
recorded in Tom Tyler’s sitting room, but doesn’t
say where Tyler lives. On the evidence of this outing
the smart – but probably misguided - money’s
on Tabernas in southern Spain (where so many spaghetti
westerns were filmed, including The Good, The Bad
And The Ugly), San Francisco or Kingston, Jamaica.
Colin Buttimer
3.5/5 |
