China Gate

Artist: Cul de Sac
Label: Thirsty Ear
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 700435702325
EAN: 0700435702325
ASIN: B0000057O4

Release Date: 1996-05-21

China Gate

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General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

Indie Rock

| Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Experimental Rock

Math Rock

Experimental Music

| Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Tracks:

China Gate
Sakhalin
Nepenthe
Doldrums
James Coburn
Virgin Among Cannibals
...His Teeth Got Lost In The Mattress...
Hemispheric Events Command
The Fourth Eye
The Colomber
China Gate (Reprise)
Utopia Pkwy.

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Customer Reviews:

unlikely.......2004-12-27

The above reviewer, unfortunately isn't in touch with the prog-rock scene. Cul de Sac is much like Godspeed, You Black Emporer or Explosions in the Sky--maybe a toned down Oxes or Lynx. They are reminiscent of some of Hood's later work (the instrumentals & Cold House).

Most notably I will insist that the listener pay close attention to the two vocal tracks, "China Gate" and "Reprise" since these are a direct nod to Sun Ra. Sun Ra (the man from Saturn) was able to do with jazz music many of the things that Cul De Sac are attempting to do with rock music--push boundaries, expand consciousness, explore.

This album is a great starting point for anyone looking for challenging music, music that demands attention.

Guitar, drums, and synth instrumentals........2000-09-26

OK, let's try a more descriptive review.

This album is primarily intrumental electric guitar, bass guitar, somewhat jazz-style drumming, with various accompaniment by synthesizers and odd noises. This music does have a 60's and 70's 'spacey' sound to it, but definitely updated. It is closer to surf music than Hendrix. It certainly isn't Clapton. I suppose there are elements similar to mid-period Pink Floyd, but not as structured. Even though the guitars sometimes have some serious distortion, it's nothing like grunge. It is somewhat similar to the best intrumental efforts of Can or the Far East Family Band, if that helps anybody.

Um, let's see... the guitar intrumentals are melodic; I sometimes find my self humming parts of the tunes. Many of the tracks start out quietly with one or two instruments building up to something. This makes most of the tracks fairly long (not a bad thing in my opinion).

This is headphones music, not party music. Now that I think about it, it has some 'ambient music' elements to it. I tend to think about other things while it's playing.

If any of the above sounds like what you like, you won't be sorry. I doubt you'd ever hear any of this album on a radio station unless you live near a university. I gave 4 stars because I like other albums better, but I wouldn't sell this one either.

Just be sure to skip the short vocal tracks "China Gate" and the reprise. Eesh. Sorry, but that ain't music.

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