Buke And Gase
General Dome

THE REVIEW

Buke And Gase. A New York duo on their second album. They themselves modify and create the instruments they play, and record everything on tape. 

In this new "General Dome," a desire to improve and become interesting is evident. In "General Dome," they have hit the mark of giving noise a new guise, merging it with pop, math, and industrial. A concentration of eccentricity that is notable for its angular sounds reminiscent of bands like Deerhoof and Dirty Projectors. Buke And Gase's idiosyncratic approach to writing melodies and structuring songs is not exactly relaxing and might not appeal to people accustomed to more relaxed, background sounds. Here, the centrality of the female voice, excellent in both high and low tones, and the focus on fragmented and rearranged instrumental parts certainly leaves no room for tranquility and calmness. An example of this is the track "Hiccup," with pounding drums, scratching guitar, and the central riff entrusted to a modified baritone ukulele. The title track brings out noise guitars one on top of the other, giving the sensation of listening to something truly bizarre and over-the-top. Throughout the album, the duo's ability to create splendid melodies (as in "In The Company Of Fish"), bizarre and angular, but engaging and never banal, reigns supreme. "Hard Times," one of the most successful tracks, is the perfect example to understand Buke And Gase's skill. In General Dome, you find everything you need to have fun listening to music. Fast tracks, slow tracks, danceable tracks. But nothing that comes out of the album is tedious or flat. There's a kaleidoscope of genres and musical styles. A record that surprised me, surely destined not to take root and to make a name for itself.

A fine example of eclecticism and experimentation, which in these times of dullness is never a bad thing.