Featured Artist - Buke & Gass

At the beginning of April, I fell in love with Buke & Gass.  I had been preparing for the Free Music 2010 best of post here.  I found myself watching the NPR Tiny Desk Concert of Buke & Gass over & over again after posting it. I had to learn more about this band. I needed to hear more! What I had expected listening to 'Revel In Contempt' since I found it in December, was a full band and lots of production.  What I saw on the NPR video was only two artists, and some sound I could easily discern with visible strumming and neck plunges.  It took reading about the band to learn more of why it sounded the way it does.

Photo by Grant Cornett

I learned that Brooklyn-based BUKE (byook) & GASS (gace) are Arone Dyer on the "buke" (a self-modified six-string former baritone ukulele) and Aron Sanchez on the "gass" (a guitar-bass hybrid of his own creation). Both of them play double duty, also mobilizing a small army of foot percussion. These instruments are then filtered through various pedals, amplifiers and homemade inventions to create a surprisingly complex sound.

In an era of loops and samples, BUKE & GASS, take a Rage Against The Machine approach (recall the WARNING from their eponymous debut: "NO SAMPLES, HEYBOARDS OR SYNTHESIZERS USED IN THE MAKING OF THIS RECODING") only putting out the sound that comes out of their instruments & pedals, but no other production and mastering.  This output only approach, which comes across well represented in a live setting, is so intriguing when listening to the album.  Listen to the music with any audiophile and each one has to take a minute to digest what they are actually hearing.   I have found one or two places in the album with some production, but for the most part, it is a very similar approach to old R.A.T.M.

Before going any further with the review, let's take a look at some of the particulars:

Title: Riposte
Release Date: September 14, 2010
Genre: Alternative Rock, Pop, Experimental/Noise
RIYL: Dirty Projectors, Deerhoof, Health
http://www.bukeandgass.com/

Also, before going too far, start on a FREE DOWNLOAD (Free Download of Medulla-Oblongata - Thank You Buke & Gass!!!) to listen while reading!


'Medulla Oblongata' is a great start to the album, after some strumming and tuning, the trademark sound of BUKE & GASS comes on strong with their matched up instrument neck plunges.  It's a very unique sound that is amplified with both the "buke" and "gass" working in symphony.  The uniqueness comes out even further when after listening to the song, you realize there was no verse & chorus exchange, but one round of lyrics book-ended by some skillful playing.

You can't get two wrapped up in whether they fit in a style or whether they match traditional song writing form as they don't profess to be one sound or another, even adding "Experimental/Noise" as one if their potential genres. 

'Medicina' starts off slower and kicks up the tempo while Arone displays her tormented lyrics.  "I know how you smile when you lie, just like when you do when you say i love you"  There is a second modulation with the driving pedal drum pacing the way, accompanied by a pedal effected rhythms.

'Your Face' is the third entry.  Prevalent through the song is a similar voice staccato by Arone which closely mimics the "buke" playing, but separated by their individual timbre.  At the end of the song there is a great riff accompanied by one of the few produced parts of the album, an interesting chant (likely Arone).  Unlike 'Medulla' which had simple construction, 'Your Face' is made up of several parts and takes you for quite a ride.

'Naked Cities' is a complete composition with chorus, verses etc.  I really love this track; I could listen to it over and over again.  The lyrics are great, the composition of the song is great, the vocals are outstanding and it's really a fantastic song. 
Buke and Gass - "Naked Cities" | Riposte posted by YiN Magazine

'Sleep Gets Your Ghost' continues the "in your face" first half of the album.  (You can find this on iTunes via a podcast for dawnrecorder.org).  The pedal effects are quite cool changing the pitch.  The "gass" is featured quite heavily on this track from what I can tell.


My introduction to Buke & Gass, 'Revel in Contempt' is an awesome song.  It's even better with lyrics in your hand.  The pedal effected "buke" and "gass" are outstanding.  The song opens up the catalog of sounds capable by the band, and takes you through a best of. 
Buke and Gass - Revel in Contempt posted by Kool-Aid Jams

I don't want to touch on every song, as you should really take the album for your own test drive.  However I really dig 'Page Break'.  It's quick, but rowdy; an excellent recipe for a great song.

Offical Buke & Gass video of 'Page Break'




Overall, I find the album so compelling.  I keep coming back to it on a near daily basis.  This review has probably single-handedly derailed my blog, as I spend so much time listening and attempting to understand the album.  It has been so mind opening when trying to pigeon hole it into a sound or form, and I am reminded that this is something new entirely.

Not to be too dismissive of this initial work, but  I am extremely eager to hear what a follow up might be like?  Like I felt 15 years ago with Rage Against the Machine: "How do you build off of that awesome work?"

Back to what is currently happening, I'd love to tell you to go catch the band on tour.   But there are only three dates left on the current tour opening for the tUnE-yArDs, including a sold out show in Philadelphia.  I am severely hoping that after a break they decide to tour some more.  Perhaps someone can comment on this post with how the live shows are?  In the meantime I will go back to enjoying the NPR tiny desk concert!

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To Purchase their first album check out bukeandgass.bandcamp.com

To Purchase Riposte follow the links on the right side of bukeandgass.com.


To learn more, check out this great article @ blurt-online.com



  ENJOY!!!