This latest album from Salon Kingsadore is without a doubt, a must have for music lovers. The quirky song titles intrigued me before I even began to listen. From the opening track 'Jump Cut', this album instantly grabbed my attention and had my toes tapping along.
The title track 'Mountain Rescue' is slower than some of the others to start, but the jazz vibe soon captivates, and the saxophone is a great addition that really brings the track to life.
'Floating On The Nile' is rich and haunting, the overlying melody is a tune that will stay with you after the song has finished. When instruments can be made to sing like this, a vocal track is not missed.
By comparison the track immediately after, 'High Orbit Catastrophe', will open your eyes with a much more alert and zesty style.
Finishing with 'Spear Gun, Scuba Tank, Explosion', this song really sums up what Salon Kingsadore have to offer. The fresh, smooth sounds have flowed from song to song without once missing a beat.
I don't have a favourite song. I really don't think that I could be pinned down to choose just one. Its not very often that I like an entire album, but this one is an exception to that rule There are songs for all moods, from the moody and dark to the playful and lively. Plus with a total of 13 tracks, there is plenty to enjoy.
There are not many bands out there that I feel could pull off an instrumental album this vibrant and enjoyable. Definitely a band to watch out for, this album is going to be a favourite on my ipod for quite some time to come!
Salon Kingsadore is an upbeat instrumental combo with points of reference as diverse as surf guitar, Jazz, film soundtracks and psychedelic rock.
In early 2000, the band formed and a couple of years later they released the vaguely spy movie-ish EP Flaming Morricone (2002) which, due to the virtuosity of Ruby Chen, is quite possibly the first Rock recording in NZ to feature the Taiwanese zither.
In 2004 they released their debut album Salon Kingsadore, followed by Hotel Azteca (2006) and Mountain Rescue (2010).