- Christina Apeles
Several bands, ranging from Massive Attack and Spiritualized, to Velvet Underground and Chemical Brothers, will come to mind upon hearing this release -- none of them detestable to this listener. Couple that with a number of guest vocalists stamping their sonic ensibility to his and her respective track, Death in Vegas's latest satisfies a gamut of musical tastes. With their ambient disposition intact, this time infusing rock 'n' roll gestures into the mix, Death in Vegas's The Contino Sessions aims to hypnotize.
Opening with Dot Allison (One Dove) on "Dirge," her fragile, adolescent style vocal accompaniment balances the composition, layered atop dynamic electronica. "Aisha" reflects more of a rock bent with none other than Iggy Pop offering his eccentric utterances to a backdrop of guitar and industrial beats, as organs close the song with a funk vibe. Onward to the noise-oriented "Broken Little Sister," the track has Jesus and Mary Chain written all over it, custom made for Jim Reid to let his sexual character shine through over subtle drumming and heavy guitar distortion.
Meanwhile, pleasant cycles of strumming grace "Flying." Appropriately titled, in this six-plus minute song, feelings of being airborne are evoked with swells of discord and opulence. Bands like Scenic and Pell Mell are masters of this type of instrumental scene setting. And with "Lever Street," wrought with dijointed keyboard playing like you've just walked in on a jam session, though strangely romantic, Death in Vegas proves they are just as cinematic with their craft. As long as you favor the reverie of repetitive melodies, there is no shortage in The Contino Sessions.
