ELEPHANT9 — Dodovoodoo (review)

ELEPHANT9 — Dodovoodoo album cover Album · 2008 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Sean Trane
First album from this Swedish project between two semi-experimental groups, Elephant 9 is a KB-dominated trio, but unlike many of these bands, this one thrills me beyond belief despite the reminiscence of Emerson when it comes to the organ playing. Coming in a weird colourful digipak that would resemble some of the crazier oeuvres from Vasarelli, the album is part of Rune Grammofon’s catalogue, but it is probably the label’s goofiest album title in their roster.

Demented drum beat and frantic Hammond organs, underlined by a manic but discreet bass is what the opening title track is all about. The following Cover The Mountain Top is a fantastic long ride with key-player Storlokken switching between a Fender Rhodes and his Hammond. Most of the tracks present some improvisation though in varying degrees, but the torrid closer Directions takes the cake and gives the album an abrupt and surprising end. Hymne is a welcome change of pace and is a slow Hammond-only track (probably the most Emersonian track of the album), before Misdirections takes the album back on its fusion path There is a definite “retro” feel to this album, not only induced by the vintage keyboards, but the “songwriting” as well: Doctor Honoris Causa is definitely taking its sweet time as would just about any Mwandishi track.

Certainly one of 2008’s better albums, although I only discovered it the following year, DDVD is one hell of torrid lava flow seeping from your speakers and pouring all over into your living room. Definitely worth the investigation and the investment
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