Reviews

melody maker.uk. feb. 3 1990
bourbonese qualk "my government is my soul"

"it's amazing that bourbonese qualk have remained an unknown quality in their own country for so long, actually it's criminal. formed 10 years ago in liverpool, "my government is my soul" is their seventh lp and further testament to the highly ingenious character of their music. the combination of gritty vocals, a loping bass and a wild hubbub of percussion makes "let it go" an invigorating ethno-dub scrub and at times its as hypnotic and kaleidoscopic as the happy monday's "wfl". but alongside such vibrant tracks are numerous ambient pieces rippling with sounds and atmospheres indigenous to cultures and countries other than their own. the bells and horns of "murmur" conjures up an image of tibetan monks at prayer and, like the beautifully haunting "know your enemy", could have originally been written as a film score. with most of the other tracks, the two sides of bourbonese qualk are carefully dovetailed and the innovative rhythms courtesy of owen rossiter of the stereo mc's are interlaced with loops, coils and spirals of sound, with creepy-crawling melodies, decaying notes and waves of nagging electronic noise. the words whether whispered or snarled, are often inaudible, protected by a wrap of fuzz. "ton ton macoute", however reveals a wry sense of humour; despite its title it is a strangely celebratory piece with a distinctive oriental flavour.
although "my government is my soul" is steeped in technological trickery, its and album which acknowledges the importance of ancient rites and customs, a record in time with the human pulse, with the beat and shift of the earth. dig it. dig in."

Push

+5db. france 1990
Titres: My Government is my Soul/Unpop

Le premier titre de "Unpop" laisse bouche bée. Qu'est-ce? Du Folklore écossais? Une blague acoustique? Non... Les percussions techno du morceau suivant ne rassurent pas... Serions-nous tombés sur le premier groupe opérant un crossover techno-folk? Les deux albums présentent une trentaine de titres. A l'écoute, deux sortes d'influence se dégagent clairement: un choix de dualité entre morceaux "ambiente" et techno lente (mais efficace).

Ces deux choix d'atmosphère permet à ce trio anglais d'inclure des données acoustiques. Ses artistes s'offrent également le luxe d'introduire des éléments d'influences musicales inédites dans ce style de musique: reggae techno (?!), rythmes des pays chauds...Il est flagrant que ces musiciens maîtrisent leur sujet. Quant ils sont techno, ils ne font pas dans la fioriture. Il y a cette empreinte électronique, ce moule robotique qui leur sert de plateforme à toute envolée (dans le nirvana des cyborgs?). Et lorsqu'ils jouent "ambient", on pense également aux travaux sonores de Delerium et Controlled Bleeding.

Bourbonese Qualk a du mérite à mélanger voire à brasser ces influences pour un résultat aussi impécable! -PS

METAMORPHIC JOURNEYMAN
If like me you have never heard B Q before, I'll try & describe the music for you. It varies a lot in style - sometimes it kisses the hem of Rock, at others it bows towards the likes of STEVE REICH & PHILIP GLASS, but the overall feel is of that nervous quirkiness TALKING HEADS achieve in such tracks as "Listening Wind" & "The Facts Of Life". Percussion is lull-frontal with the other instruments used for coloration. Vocals thrown into the drum onslaught sound not unlike a 70's JAZ COLEMAN with a throat infection, It's not fast, but it can be heavy - there's a lot in the sound - things you could quite easily miss the lst time around, Sometimes it's like ethnic music after a century of Westernisation - sometimes it sounds like VANGELIS "Blade Runner" soundtrack - sometimes it sounds like TEST DEPT circa "Beating The Retreat" - sometimes it's shapeless & atmospheric - all the time, it's a rewarding listen.

ANTONY BURNHAM

MFTEQ #1
As a shining icon "My Government Is My Soul", a polished live-sounding album which occasionally hints at a rockier, commercial-edged trickled forth last year. Filled with sequenced bass rhythms, endless percussion and wonderfully noise-ridden synthesised voice. It's a collection of hauntingly quiet passages, broken by unusually emotive angst. A testament to BOURBONESE QUALK who after all these years can cater for the most ardent industrialists and clean-cut popists alike. Album of the year perhaps?