New England Music News

Soundoff: Benbazi

Weighing in on tracks by Samuel James and Hour Past

By SOUNDOFF | November 15, 2006

Benbazi

BENBAZI, the mohawk-wearing percussionist for BOOMBAZI and BOOMSQUAD, as well as a performer with LABSEVEN, weighs in on songs by SAMUEL JAMES and HOUR PAST.

SAMUELJAMES, “BIG BLACK BEN,” FROM RETURN OF SUGAR SMALLHOUSE
“I love a good voice. Samuel James has a cool-sounding voice. It’s personal and I believe it. While listening, I left Portland behind; Samuel James’s music took me to the hot South, drinkin’, chillin’ somewhere on a porch in the swamp. Yeah, Crazy Horse would be the drink in hand.”

HOUR PAST, “A THOUGHT AWAY”
“I’m into music that’s dirty, real gutter music, you know? This music sounds way too clean. Excellent recording, almost too good. All instruments sound way too wet, like they were recorded underwater. Vocals are nice, musicians are tight. It reminds me of something from the ’80s.”