From: nsj@Apple.COM (Neal Johnson)
Newsgroups: alt.gothic
Subject: Re: Tel Basta
Date: 20 Aug 92 20:32:31 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA

In article <y0uRPB3w165w@cyberden.uucp> moon!cyberden!jwlhyfer@well.sf.ca.us writes:
>Recently someone posted a message in here about Tel Basta..Later that day 
>I was in Reckless Records here in S.F. and I found their tape for 1.99 in 
>the used bin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THEY ARE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sort of a bit like 
>Dead Can Dance or something..anyway..Buy THis Tape!! Go see them..I guess 
>they are playng in SF at the Elbo Room on Sept.19th..

They are also playing at the Paradise Lounge in S.F. on Sunday,
August 23rd at 10pm.

You can get a nice shiny CD from the band by sending a check
to

Tel Basta
682 Oak St. #2
San Francisco, CA 94117

The price is $10.00 plus $1.50 for postage (domestic) or $3.00 for
overseas.

MAKE THE CHECK PAYABLE TO PINE  <---------

The following review was posted today on the 4AD mail list:

From: John Tebbutt <tebbutt@RHINO.NCSL.NIST.GOV>
Subject:      Review of Tel Basta
To: Multiple recipients of list 4AD-L <4AD-L@JHUVM.BITNET>
 

 OK, for anyone that's interested, here's my review of the Tel Basta
CD.  I think this will be of interest primarily to fans of Dead Can
Dance, Cranes, Xymox, Eno (of all people!) etc, but TB definitely have
a 4AD-like feel, so the rest of you might want to read on, too. I'm not
really used to doing this sort of thing, so if I sound like a real
dillon, or if you don't understand what I'm getting at, apologies!
 
Summary: Buy this CD! It's the best $10 you'll spend this month!
 
I think this CD is a real find. The more I hear it, the more I like it.
This band has some really good ideas, and they have put them together
into an impressive collection of songs. I have included some
track-by-track notes at the end of this message.

Other folks on the list have compared TB to DCD, and the comparison is
valid, but TB are emphatically NOT a limp DCD clone in the style of
Eden. The music has the energy and vibrance of originality, as opposed
to the flat, new age featurelessness which is charateristic of Eden's
work. I would describe TB and DCD as kindred spirits, but not as
soundalikes.
 
I find TB's music to be engrossing, at times enervating, at times
calming, but always enthralling. The bulk of the material on this CD
tends toward a dark, mysterious and dramatic sound, but some of the
songs are pleasantly bright. Each song is a meticulously constructed
ll.
 
The downside: really not much at all. Any comments I make here are
minor quibbles. I think this band deserve a more expensive production!
Some of the greatness of these songs is masked to a degree by an
unpolished production. Also, some of the songs tend to sound overly
busy, I think because sounds that ought to be subtle are too loud -
Sorry if I've rambled. Track-by-track follows. If you would like to
order this CD, drop me a line for info.

1.  Book of Hours
Lots of string sounds in interlaced and interweaving patterns. A guitar
picks its way around the banks of strings. Pine's (female) voice is
clear, open, honest. There is a lot going on in this track. Upbeat with
a hint of caution.
 
2.  And He Said
2.  And He Said
Multi-layered, dark, rhythmic, has middle-eastern atmosphere, complete
with snake charmer's flute. Could be DCD. Male vocals are erudite and
dignified, like DCD. Female vocals are pure, bright.
 
3.  The Treasure in the Moon
Happy, dreamy, optimistic. Weird rhythm - starts on an strange beat
after chorus break - always catches me off guard! Pine's voice is pure,
innocent sounding -> optimism. Reminiscent of YMG's Alison Statton. Not
at all DCD - Reminds me of Magnetic Fields' "100,000 Fireflies" on the
One Last Kiss compilation.
 
 4.  Sacred Bells
Dreamy, with violin, harpsichord and piano-like sounds. Sweeps forward
in waves of calm. Male and female vocals.
 
5.  Equestria
Exotic, rhythmic, insistent. Suggests galloping horses. Relentless,
heady, like a frenzied dance. Could be DCD (just). Instrumental.
 
6.  Golden Chains
Starts with the theme from track 9, Walls Disappear: a high piano picks
its uncertain way through ominous walls of string synths. Breaks into a
dark, eerie lament, with rhythmic backing, snake charmer's flute,
string synths. Male and female vocals are a quiet chant, almost
murmured.

7. Splendor
Rhythmic yet dreamy. Full of hope. Male and female vocals are soft and
heavily reverbed -> soothing. Mid-section has DCD-like rhythms.
 
8.  Suena
Quiet but rhythmic guitars. Atmospheric. Reminiscent of the feel of DCD/
Cranes. Instrumental.

9.  Walls Diasappear
Dark, suspenseful, ominous. Like a good soundtrack, but not DCD. Male
vocals are growled and whispered. Female vocals are a bright "la-la-la"
in the background. A high piano leads the way for dark string banks.
They could have used this one in "Silence of the Lambs"!

10. Seldom
Slow, heavy rhythm, grandiose. Male vocals are restrained. Kind of in
the style of a slow track from Xymox's "Medusa". Perhaps a synthesized
version of something from Joy Division's "Closer", but not as
depressed(!). This track comes in relentless, slow, waves - hypnotic.

11. Via Sacra
Cascades of string/pipe keyboards remind me of one of the more ambient
tracks on Eno's "Another Green World". Also reminiscent of Xymox/Pieter
Nooten.  Has a very similar tune to track 4, Sacred Bells. Nice.


>I also strongly recommend Switchblade Symphony, another San Francisco
>based band, who have a tape out. You can get more info. on them by
>calling 415/775-7157, ask for Martin Phillips. They are kind-of in that
>post Cocteau Twins/Dead Can Dance/Siouxsie/Joy Division mode..and they
>are very listenable..

Yeah, I saw them a few weeks back at DNA. Quite a good band. They
have added a bass/guitar player who adds an early Xymox/Cocteau
Twins flavor that is not on the tape. Highly recommended...

============================================================================
name: Neal Johnson         "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."
mail: nsj@apple.COM        "Love is the law, love under will." 
phone: (408) 974-6246
disclaimer: Everything stated here is disclaimed by all.
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Newsgroups: alt.gothic