Wagon Christ: Tally Ho!
Astralwerks/Virgin, 1998
This is more than your average trip hop album. In fact, it’s really not even fair to try to slap a label on this slab of precious tracks. Just to set the stage for this review, it should be noted that I am a big fan of Luke Vibert’s music, with the exception of his releases under the pseudonym Plug, which I find fairly mediocre. Wagon Christ’s a whole ’nother story, though. First up on Tally Ho! is “Fly Swat.” After a playful jingle, the fun starts with vocal samples and a familiar piano lick. Whose heart doesn’t leap when the bassline and beats kick in with precision?
Next up, and deserving a separate paragraph, is “Crazy Disco Party.” This frantic track has happy synths over bizarre vocal undercurrents which keep things from getting too joyful. Vibert has a way of infusing his tracks with emotion, and a wide range to boot. Move along. The funk continues with “Tally Ho!” This track keeps things upbeat, but it too has darker melodies which weave in and out to ward off sappiness. “Memory Towel” is yet another strong track, though I didn’t like it as much at first. Perhaps I was put off by the screaming. I could go on, but all the tracks are very good. Even the silly phone-sex-line-inspired “Juicy Luke Vibert” has its charm. The best advice I could give is listen to this LP. If you’re into the whole happy vibe (and at times I’m more susceptible than usual) pick this one up and have your own crazy disco party. Yeah, I know that’s a cheesy end for a review....
