Published on Jul 8, 2005
When I see the words “Special Sphere” I’m going to have
expectations. I am a very literal person. If you say it’s special,
well, it had better be. But YUCK! This album was ghastly. It was
awful. I rarely trash a person or group’s hard work because I
appreciate the effort, even if I don’t personally like the music.
But give me a break. There was no energy expended on this pathetic
attempt to make music. There was no polish applied, no character or
talent displayed. Let me explain.
Zufolo is a 14-member group — rather large for a “band.” They
break the language barriers of Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and
English. Lots of people, lots of talent. Right? With such a large
group of people you’d think that there would, at the very least, be
an infinitesimal amount of talent. I was in for an unexpected
ride….and not a good one.
They drove me straight into music hell. And the ride didn’t end
there. Every song is the same thing over and over. It’s monotonous
and dull all the way through. The only emotion I felt was pain; as
if someone was sticking needles into my skin and then twisting them
around.
The picture on the CD sleeve hinted that it they played techno
music. “Perfect Style” is anything but perfect, and as far as
“style,” there is none. It sounds like a blend of techno-jazz with
sappy cocktail lounge music in some old dingy nightclub where a
go-go dancer is frantically trying to keep the attention of the
audience. Alicia (one-name only) performs the vocals, and I use the
word “perform” loosely.
“Forever” aptly describes how I feel about the entire CD; it
goes on forever and ever. It was repetitious to agitation, and it’s
so broken into pieces that you get lost in the drone. Similar to
jazz’s fragmented style, but further broken down into such tiny
ear-slicing pieces that you are exhausted and bloody when it’s all
over.
“Crazy World” had redeeming horn work but the vocals were
off-key and Mark Valley stretched his abilities to the point of no
return. Sorry man, it was just bad! “Pretty City” was musically
okay, but just okay. Unfortunately, the duet of Alicia’s singing
and Valley’s talking totally screwed it up. (A wasted attempt at
rapping? I’m not sure.)
“Experience” aptly describes what I endured to review this crap.
Choppy and idiotic, it just doesn’t come together. I kept hoping
that it would all end. My experience with this album will not be
repeated. I won’t endure this one again. The whole CD is like
listening to cats mate — lots of obnoxious noise and irritating to
the neighbors.
Oddly enough this group is described by its producers as
featuring “some of the finest UK-based jazz and Latin musicians.” I
must be missing something. Have UK listeners gotten jaded? Or just
lost their hearing?