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Losing Today (Web, USA)
February 2005
Web site
JOE TURNER: Between Two Seconds
Camera Obscura Records (CAM067CD)
The levels on which Joe Turner's "Between Two Seconds" is an
accomplishment are nearly limitless. Perhaps best known as the drummer
of former space-rock outfit Abunai! Turner has created a vast and
expansive solo (full-length) debut that builds upon his self-released
EP "Dollar Star". "Between Two Seconds" takes off with "Waking Dream" a
nearly six minute instrumental piece that begins with a gossamer layer
of synthesizers coupled with a delicate flute line that quickly
becomes enveloped by, but never lost in, soaring guitars, precise
percussion and a hypnotic drone that seems almost bottomless in its
breadth. "Waking Dream" then flows seamlessly into "When Will You Wake
Up?" ~ a catchy and rhythmic track that couples some of the same
elements as "Waking Dream" but in an entirely different way. In "When
Will You Wake Up?" Turner's vision is one of 60's psychedelia wedded
with modern rock: a marriage that works in large part due to Turner.s
competent vocals and relentless percussion. Later tracks include the
trippy and ironic "Turn Me Upside Down" which showcases Turner's
simple, yet clever lyrics: "There's a sliver of a moon up above the
city / and it's looking upside down / it's a little like you when
you're looking pretty / and you turn me upside down" as well as the
return of the flute we heard in the opening track. Even "Dollar
Star" the slightly darker follow-up, on which Turner plays all the
instruments and provides the vocals, inspires a sense of optimism in
the listener who is once again swept away by the combination of
towering guitars, insistent percussion and convincing
synthesizers. "When the Day Crowd Leaves", the album's 10th track, on
which Turner plays all the instruments, is a melancholy and autumnal
psychedelic flight that calls to mind the best of The Moody Blues and
The Byrds, while the album's last track, "Perfect The First
Time" provides an intoxicating spaced-out anthem that shows off
Turner's vocal abilities while enlisting the help of former band mate,
Brendan Quinn on guitar. However, my favorite track on "Between Two
Seconds", which boasts many incredible moments, has to be the album's
7th track, "Not There Anymore" which is an unexpected gem that
shimmers with the addition of such elements as cello, flute and hand
beaten percussion. Incredibly, what may be most remarkable about
"Between Two Seconds" is not merely that Turner is responsible for all
the arrangements, all the lyrics and nearly all the instrumentation
,vocals, and production. Rather, it's that with "Between Two Seconds",
Turner has created what very often takes many bands an entire career
to realize: a cohesive and unified album that remains varied and
interesting while also holding true to an artistic theme and
vision. All in all, this is the kind of music that begs to played on a
sultry summer night with the top down and nothing but the open road in
front of you. That said, I'm praying for a long summer.
(Jennifer Jones)
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