REVIEW: Don Caballero, Singles Breaking Up (vol. I) (Touch & Go)
- Kerwin So
Verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, solo, chorus, bad solo. The fearsome foursome known as Don Caballero not only eschew the conventional pop formula, they pound it to a bloody pulp. Don Cabs music resembles a sonic train wreck: terrifying, brutal, yet awesome to behold. While death metal might be the closest genre to identify this band with, Don Caballero is decidedly not metal. Their sound is dark and violent, to be sure, but in a more fragmented and pointed way - intermittent shards of harsh guitar and thundering bass scrape against fusillades of chaotically controlled percussion. Drummer and band leader Damon Che nails his drum kit down onto the stage before performing live, a ritual that, along with stripping down to his skivvies, clearly demonstrates his power and seriousness behind the drums. Don Caballero further refuse to add vocals to their songs, placing them in a class of their own.
Now if you're already a fan of the Don, then Singles Breaking Up will definitely be up your alley, particularly if you jumped late onto the bandwagon. While the CD doesn't technically contain any new Don Cab songs, it does feature a host of B-sides and session tracks left over from the past few albums, as well as one previously unreleased track. To the new listener, however, it may be difficult to tell the difference between songs, especially upon first listen. Despite the reference to the Buzzcocks Singles Going Steady, this is not a collection of Don Caballero's greatest hits, nor will any of the songs ever likely achieve broad commercial success. But if you can stick with it without sustaining a migraine, it may just pay off: you'll start to pick out parts and changes you hadnt noticed before, and begin to appreciate the force and sheer ability of drummer Che (particularly in the shorter songs). Besides Che's blistering stickwork, the real beauty of Don Caballero is the sheer density of its compositions; once you get over the feeling of being overwhelmed, there's something new to be heard and discovered every time. In short: if you're feeling musically adventurous, give this CD - and this band - a try.
