Tripping Daisy
The Tops Off Our Head
(1999) Good Records
Having parted company with Island Records, Daisy self-produced this ep on their new DIY label, Good Records. Although there are technically seven songs on this disc, there is only one programmable 22 minute track. This makes playing the CD a very specific experience with a designated beginning and end (you'll have to fast forward in search mode if you want to find a favorite song or part ). Five of the pieces were improvised in the studio and the other two (including a version of "Never My Love" by the Association) were arranged beforehand.
Tops is interesting as a study of music that is organic and created using a stream-of-consciousness method. The stripped down nature of Tops is quite a radical departure from Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb, its lavishly produced predecessor. But it leaves me looking forward to their next big production (the eponymous Tripping Daisy, due out in April '00). Tops Off Our Head is for Daisy fans only just as the artists intended it to be by making it available only through their website.
2000 © Raptorial Media