Primus
Back in the Madhouse

THE REVIEW

I am excited, in ecstasy.

My brain is practically in mush.

After reading late in the afternoon that Les Claypool and the gang are intent on recording the new album... but why am I even telling you this!!!

In the sense that I no longer understand anything, or almost; the usual hormonal upheaval has taken possession of my poor body. Mental faculties that have gone by the wayside (not to use that other term that reminds us of the oldest female profession in the world); and I have already started the countdown. Even though the release date of the new album by PRAIMUS is still officially unknown.

It doesn't matter; I already know for certain that it will become my album of 2017; a year so far lacking in discographic releases worthy of being remembered by me.

So it seems right to me to celebrate this monumental event by talking about an old work by the reckless boys from Cali(fuck)fornia.

It's a bootleg recorded during the 1993 European tour; it was the time of the roses... pardon, "Pork Soda," one of the key works to understand the absurd musical journey of Les, Larry, and Tim. It is rumored, not just online, that part of the recordings even come from the concert on September 1st that my incomparable idols held in learned Bologna, accompanied by the Canadians I Mother Earth and the European crossover champions Urban Dance Squad... and here comes the sure applause from a good part of the site's visitors!!!

A concert where I made myself well noticed with my youthful ardor (in my good old days AZZ), coordinating the "mosh" movement of the numerous attendees who showed up for the event.

But back to the album, starting from that cover image that well summarizes the party-loving, truly cheeky nature that has always accompanied the band. For those few who don't know the group, let me add this: starting from the left, the first you encounter is the drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander, a champion of time signatures and odd times. In other words, a juggling master of the instrument.

Next in the center, with a barely noticeable smile and a not-so-fitting t-shirt, is the guitarist Larry Lalonde (always good to remember his youthful militancy in Possessed, one of the bands that contributed significantly to the birth of that dreadful music called Death Metal).

And finally, here he is, my cousin Les, with those hawk-like mustaches; he is the voice of Primus. And he also plays the bass; many claim he plays it well. I can't express myself on this subject, considering my total musical ignorance, not knowing a single note of the staff.

Seventy-four minutes of "delirium tremens" divided into thirteen tracks. Actually, twelve plus a short solo by Tim sitting behind his "tambourines." It is very easy to imagine the poor sound quality of the work; an agonizing, limping recording. Not much is understood; even the sounds of the instruments are almost comical; it's Les's bass that suffers the worst treatment. In some moments, his instrument emits a harsh sound that seems to come from a washing machine engaged in the spin cycle!! It doesn't go much better for guitar and drums; same ridiculous drift.

But who cares!!! Primus are my NUMBER ONE in Music and even in this case, despite the awful things reported just above, with each listen I go into raptures.

And so we start full throttle with "Here Comes The Bastards" and reach the final gallop of "Harold Of The Rocks"; passing through "My Name Is Mud," "Hamburger Train," "Mr. Krinkle," "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver" etc...etc...etc...(1).

The usual super-articulated multifaceted form; grotesque lyrics that talk about fishing trips and utterly disreputable characters.

A prodigious sense of humor that has accompanied the group since its debut; fragmentary, hilarious, changeable in its endless instrumental digressions with a free spirit beyond all limits.

An aggressive Funk-Metal among Jazz-Prog riffs that refer to the "usual" (in the brilliant sense of the term) Zappa, Resident, Clinton, Beefheart, Rush, Crimson (King), Floyd (Pink) etc...etc...etc...(2).

But Primus is not Secundus to anyone... and of course, I had to make the joke!!!

Now the wait for me will be much, much less stressful (I already have my usual stress to face daily, for heaven's sake!!!).

God Save The Primus, in aeternum.

Ad Maiora.