The O-town Scene

New Music Notes By Mark Boshnack Gang Gang Dance is out of this world To paraphrase an old commercial, with a name like Gang Gang Dance, I knew the band would have to be be good. The Brooklyn group’s latest album, “Eye Contact,” was released last month and surpasses those expectations. The band started in 2001, and is known for its experimental sound and blending of genres, heavy on the electronics and world music. The opening track, “Glass Jar,” starts with some of the clearly spoken words on the al- bum. “I can hear everything _ it’s everything time.” In nearly 48 minutes and 10 songs, the group takes the listener on a musical trip, which at times makes it seem like that guy might be right. Take that first song _ almost ambient in the beginning, it is filled with slow, swirling synthe- sisers, using words sparingly, almost as punc- tuation, as the music searches for a direction. If there was a remake of the movie “2001,” this could be the soundtrack of the finale as Dave searches for the meaning of his life. But at 6 minutes and 19 seconds, the techno beats kick in, and the voice of lead singer Lizzi Bougatsos is used as another instru- ment, bringing us back to Earth. As a calypso sound is added, the singer, who has one of the most haunting voices I have heard, says what sounds like, “Where were you ... I cared for you like a brother.” It’s a poignant ending to a masterwork. It may not be everything, but this group travels a lot of miles in a little more than 11 minutes _ and that is only the beginning. With what could be an incantation, the album makes the first of three transitions, as this group continues on its journey. Mixing rock, techno and world sounds, this section starts with “Adult Goth,” again show- ing the group’s ability to blend all kinds of music for its distinctive sound. “Chinese High” has some great dance beats, and once again I don’t know what Bougatsos is singing, but her sound is a perfect complement to what is happening instrumentally. Check out several live YouTube videos to get an appreciation for the work of this band in crafting their music. But my favorite of this section is “MindKilla,” with its chorus, “Don’t be the MindKilla” sung over a dance beat and other sounds, concluding with an air-raid siren. The journey then moves to a fun section with another standout, “Romance Layers,” filled with a big fat bass line, steady drum and Contributed Gang Gang Dance synthesizers. The funk gets pretty infectious. The final section has one song, “Thru and Thru,” which ends the album on a high note full of dance rhythms, world music and drum beats. The narrator comes back to close the song with, “live forever.” This latest by Gang Gang Dance makes it seem like anything is possible. Mark Boshnack is a reporter for The Daily Star and a music fiend. He can be reached at mboshnack@thedailystar.com. June 9, 2011 O-Town Scene 5

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