Search - Brother :: Urban Cave

Ain't nothin' like 'em

Joshua N. King | Dallas, TX USA | 02/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, I wanna point out that one editorial review is a bit off. Urban Cave is not bROthER's fourth album, it's their ninth. In order, they are "Brother" "Pipe Dreams" "Exit from Screechville" "Black Stone Tramp" "The Digging Bone" "Your Backyard" "This Way Up" "I You You Me" "Urban Cave." The brother who left the band years ago, Fergus, has his own cd...Bur: Bur's Acoustic and Electric Celtic World Orchestra. These guys are the ones who inspired me to get into music & because of them, I play a wide range of instruments, including the didjeridu & bagpipes. Not only is their music indescribably beautiful, profound, insightful, foot-stompin', take-your-breath-away, kick-arse awesome...but the guys themselves...some of the most genuine, down-to-earth people ever. I've had the privilege of getting to know them over the years & know that their music comes from their souls, from their hearts, from their land...long live bROthER"

Totally original!

Alison | 02/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Amazing beyond words. I can feel the beat in my blood and my bones...just listening to the music makes me want to dance! It's primal and modern and totally rock and roll in a way that I've never heard before. I can't get enough. I only wish there were more tracks on the disk - more CDs for me to listen to! Nothing else makes me feel so alive, so completely a part of the music. I can feel the emotions and the power and the beauty behind it all.



As a piper myself, I'm in complete admiration of their amazing ability (I'm trying to teach myself to play some of their music!) - there is no comparing them to anyone; they're totally original.



And they're nice, to boot! Got to meet them in person at a concert two weeks ago...I definitely recommend this band! Their concerts are great, their music is amazing...



Keep it coming, Brother! I'm ready for more!

"

Enter the cave With An Open Mind

Thomas Downey | Roseville, MI USA | 02/23/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You have to give Brother credit. Their latest album and grand experiment, "Urban Cave" has managed to polarize their current fan base into two sides: those who like the new album, and those who like the older material. Still, you have to give a band credit for stretching their sound in several different directions, and taking the risk of alienating their fans, especially an indie band. And that's what Brother has done.Brother, for those non-initiates, is/was an indy celtic rock band who have built up a reputation for powerful exciting live performances, pop-rock-Celtic-Aboriginal music with introspective, positive lyrics, bagpipes and a didgeridoo.Now, with their latest release, "Urban Cave", the much-beloved Celtic influence becomes just one of many influences in this mixed bag of styles and sounds. Now incorporating electronica, hip-hop, jazz, and other new instrumentation (cello, trumpet). The lyrics have undergone a change as well...a bit more melancholy has crept into the mix. As a result, many old time fans have found themselves dismayed at the "radical" sound change, as well as the "re-interpretation" of some of the band's older material that is contained on this album.Let's take a look at this. First off, with all the personnel changes that band has endured, they simply are not the same group that they once were. Secondly, the electronic influence is one that has been growing in the band's music over their last two studio releases, so their diving into the samples isn't really that much of a shock as much as it is a natural progression of their sound.This much can be said...even with its "flaws", "Urban Cave" stands as Brother's most fully realized, most passionate and strongest album to date.The new songs, obviously written for their new style, rank as some of the band's strongest to date. "Funny", the opening track, places the band's cards on the table with a fuzzy guitar lick leading into electronic drums and featuring a rap section. "Fragile" features a grab bag of guitar licks (country, surf), didj, and samples. "In Your Name" is a of a darker tone ("The world is mine/But I don't feel okay/I lost my mind today..." "In your name/I could get away...with murder"), and stands as one of their most engaging tracks yet. The melancholy continues with "Say Goodbye".The re-do's are where things get a bit iffy. First off, with some time between studio releases, the re-done older material initially comes off as unnecessary, until you give them a proper listen. Some songs, like "River", with it's U2/The Edge-like guitar line, and "Lonely With You", with Hamish's most impassioned vocal yet, have improved upon their originals. "Fly Away", formerly a straight acoustic track, in now completely different in it's electronic swirls and samples. It's jarring for fans of the original, yet ends up standing up equally to its predecessor. "Crazy (Just Like Everyone)", in it's 3rd incarnation, suffers a little bit from the old adage "tinker with something enough and you might just break it". It's still good, but the original was very nearly the model of the perfect post-millennium pop song. "Inside of Me" (previously known as "Bitch") and "How Do You Feel" (previously "It's All Good)...well...they are radical re-does, and newer fans will most likely enjoy them. But these are the two tracks that have polarized their following. And frankly...they were better off before. "How Do You Feel" eventually hits the familiar riff of it's predecessor, too little too late. "Inside of Me" is the one track where the grab bag approach gets a bit too much, including a very cheesy 80's era radio bit.Still, the album is their most unified, cohesive collection yet. The grab bag of influences and sounds could have been a muddled mess, and come perilously close at times, but the production of the album strikes a good balance. The band, namely Hamish & Angus, give strong performances musically and vocally; probably their strongest yet on record. They know they're taking a big chance with this album and they give it all they got. Guitarist Rick Kurek, who sadly left the band following this album's release, uses a wide range of styles in his sounds and playing ability, deftly tackling surf guitar, fuzzy psychedelic and the previously mentioned Edge-sounding riffs, as well as the cello. T. Xiques' brings a dynamic tribal percussion style, well suited for the band. Dez Stewart's contributions are the most obvious new additions, and whether you like the new style or not, he adds a new heartbeat to the band. Brother issues quite the challenge with their latest. "Urban Cave" is an album that cannot be pigeonholed into a style, or even an adequate description. It's many things to many people...but it's endlessly engaging. It may confuse or even surprise you at first...but give this album a chance. There are plentiful gifts here that will reveal themselves with repeated listening. Enter the Cave with an open mind."