Ken Butler - Voices Of Anxious Objects (1997)

It would be all too easy for this recording to be simply a novelty, its value lying in Ken Butler's unique creations -- instruments made out of hammers, shovels, golf clubs, etc. Fortunately, these homemade instruments are actually playable, and Butler is joined by some excellent musicians, including Paradox Trio leader Matt Darriau. This release stands up to repeated listens better than the Gravikords, Whirlies & Pyrophones compilation, in which the actual music is secondary to the documentation of the created instruments. The music on Voices of Anxious Objects is great fun, trouncing through sections of quirky garage rock as well as terrific hybridized world rhythms that recall Pachora. As an added bonus, the liner notes and insert include color photos of each song's unique featured instrument. © Joslyn Layne