by Mott the Dog
4
1/2 Stars
First, I am sure you noticed, this dog usually gets his
capital letters in the right places. However, those young pups from flow
do not like to use capital letters in their name and CD titles, and who am
I to argue? After all, the Beatles couldn’t spell. flow’s second album
in their trilogy (seeds, roots, and flowers), roots comes two years after
the first album and confirms flow as one of Thailand’s leading rock
bands, although only Mit Witchitwatee was born in Thailand; the rest of
the band has made Thailand their home.
In all departments of their trade flow has come on in
leaps and bounds. Out the front, when flow takes to the live stage, is
Rick Montembeault. As well as being the sole songwriter in the band, he
also possesses one of the most unique and emotive voices in Rock ‘n’
Roll. Rick’s collection of songs flow beautifully throughout the album.
Opening with the introductory ‘flow river flow’, which builds from a
quiet beginning allowing each member of the band to slowly integrate
themselves into the song. Straight away it is thrust into your ears. The
regular gigs all over Thailand have made the band tighter and their
confidence is infectious.
The
rhythm section of Peter Fleischhaker together with Mit Witchitwatee fair
punch each song, Peter playing his bass guitar in the more modern style,
like a lead instrument, rather than traditionally as a rhythm instrument
to underpin the song (especially on the rocky ‘easier to be gone’).
Mit Witchitwatee’s drumming is also pushed right to the front of the
mix. If his funky drumming was a feature of seeds, then he excels himself
on roots, cementing his place as Thailand’s drummer’s drummer.
On
lead guitar and star of the live set is the man with more nicknames than
he can remember, Roland Fleischhacker, a.k.a. ‘The Character’, or to
most of his friends ‘Breez’. Breez’s (see, Mott the Dog’s a
friend) guitar playing throughout is exemplary and is the only lead
guitarist that flow could ever have as he manages to play in all the
different styles that Rick Montembeault’s songs demand. You are never
going to get bored listening to a flow album. Even through this one
Breez’s playing leaves you in no doubt that you are listening to a
collection of flow songs. One of my small gripes about this set is that
Breez is only once allowed to blow up into a hurricane with his axe
playing (during ‘hey old man’). For two and a half minutes Breez rips
through his strings bringing the song to a roaring climax. I hope on the
final piece of the trilogy Breez is given a little more rope to let it all
hang out. It certainly would add so much more excitement to proceedings.
Unfortunately
third song in ‘non-song’ is exactly as the title suggests, and perhaps
could have been left on the cutting room floor. It sounds a bit like an
outtake from seventies spoof band Alberto Y Los Trios Paranois, thereby
incurring the loss of half a star. But this is more than made up for by
what follows in ‘the money song’, ‘then there’s me’ and the
amazing ‘wooden indian’. They are the central songs of the set and are
by far the best songs ever to come from the pen of Rick Montembeault. If
you had to pick one song it would have to be ‘wooden indian’ with its
Led Zeppelin influences flying high. Hey, everybody has influences; best
to get them from the top. ‘wooden indian’ is a tribute to native North
Americans. It is hard to think of a better crafted song in the world of
rock music and is worth the price of the CD on its own.
To add to the splendor, the talents of ‘Life After
Nine’ (whose debut album ‘Stomp’ is a must for any lover of good
time music) violinist Steve Cipolline have been used on the song, giving
flow’s sound a whole new dimension. Showing complete unity with
Thailand’s musicians, the multi-talented keyboard player Keith Nolan of
‘Cannonball’ has also gainfully been employed. Now there is an idea,
next time flow graces Pattaya or Chang Mai with a concert, perhaps they
could bring these two with them. Now that would be something to behold.
‘the money song’ is not only a very fine rocker,
it’s also very funny to boot. The glee in Rick Montembeault’s vocals
as he sings
“Money makes the world go round, But why?
It can’t buy happiness, But it’s fun to try,
And you can’t take it with you when you die,
In the end only cockroaches, Keith Richards, and money
will survive,
Money is evil, And I should know because I’m poor,
Money is evil, But I’ll need more to be sure.”
Great stuff, Doubloons indeed. Music to tap your foot
to and put a smile on your face. Final song ‘the wheel keeps turning’
brings the whole set to a rousing conclusion.
The album comes in a gatefold digi-pack with a separate
booklet with lots of photos, all the lyrics and as much information as you
are likely to need on the band, all designed by long time flow stalwart
Richard Wilson. All in all a very nice package. I look forward to the
final chapter of the trilogy - flowers. As flow say, roots - dig in and
dig it.
Flow will be playing at Shenanigans on Wednesday 18th February on their
World Roots Tour 2004. The band will be on stage at Shenanigans at 10.30
p.m.
Musicians
Rick Montembeault - guitar and lead vocals
Breez - lead guitar and vocals
Mit Witchitwatee - drums and percussion
Peter Fleischhacker - bass guitar and vocals
Songs
flow river flow
easier to be gone
the non-song
the money song
then there’s me
wooden Indian
hey old man
don’t push the river
the wheel keeps turning
Another
‘first book’ this week, from American Jim Newport, an Emmy nominated
production designer for both film and TV. His book, The Vampire of Siam
(ISBN 9-7483-0380-2, Asia Books 2003) has plaudits on the back cover
proclaiming that his “intimate knowledge of the Far East makes this an
ultra-realistic journey into terror.”
Mott’s CD review: flow - roots