EXTRA-DELUXE-SUPREME (vinyl)

Description

Four years after Cicada, the New York combo led by the astonishing guitarist and harmonica player Wade Schuman is back in France to deliver music from deep America, blending genres and eras from 1920s-30s blues to Klezmer, from swing and R&B to New Orleans sounds, illegitimate children of Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart and Dr. Feelgood. Drawing from and playing with the sounds of the migratory melting pot that is New York City, Hazmat Modine returns to Europe more fiery than ever. They will serve us the heart of American music on a silver platter of sparkling brass, electric guitars, hips, violin and vocal harmonies, all under the direction of the dashing harmonica wizard Wade Schuman. The songs, allegories of triumphs and tragedies, draw their inspiration from Memphis to Rock Steady, via Egyptian Afro-Pop, the roots of Americana and the spirit of Tuva throat singing, to emerge with the unique flavor of Hazmat Modine. This new record emphasizes deep vocal harmonies with Gospel overtones, with crunchy and elaborate arrangements that give us a style that can be defined as Baroque Blues. Recording began in an old farmhouse converted into a studio near Osnabrück, Germany, and was completed in New York. On this album Hazmat Modine is joined by drummer-percussionist Tim Keiper (Vieux Farka Toure, Cyro Baptista, John Zorn) and on stage by the dazzling violinist and vocalist Mazz Swift (Valerie June, D'Angelo, Vernon Reid).