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Day By The River, Jiggle The Handle, Vinyl- Three Sets
by Reid Brocken - August, 1999

Three Sets is the first project released by the fledgling label Lauan Records Before moving on to the music, I wish to point out that the label is committed to by keeping their CD prices very low (this disc will set you back a mere EIGHT bucks) and by donating money to charity. This is a win/win situation, as fans get good music at a fair price, and some worthy organizations receive some additional funding. Of course none of this would manner one iota if the music presented here wasn't enjoyable, which it is. Three Sets collects ten songs performed by three bands with varied sounds, located in different parts of the country: Day By The River, Jiggle The Handle and Vinyl.

The disc opens in the mid-flight as Day By The River's segues into "Puddin." Ted Lahey's rich, soulful growls and Jason Rabineau's notebending leads define the group's sound as thick, batter-dipped and southern fried. However, keyboardist Walt Austin also contributes some jazzier flair, most notably on "Moanin' Lisa" which follows. The band's set closes with "Story," a dense, more nuanced song which did not immediately grab this listener but one which I further appreciated with each additional spin. Indeed, this may be an apt metaphor to describe Day By The River's music in general, as it is a thick brew that is ultimately rewarding once it has been fully tasted and savored.

Next up is Jiggle The Handle, whose music provides a contrast as it is a bit more immediate and accessible (which is no knock against either band). The group's first track "Finally," demonstrates this point, as it is an upbeat, more traditional rock tune which builds to a rousing climax that highlights the band's vocal interplay. Gary Backstrom also distinguishes himself here, enlivening this song with some ringing guitar leads. Next up is what I found to be the most enjoyable composition on the entire disc "Walking Backwards." It was written by the group's newest member Chris Kew (formerly of Hypnotic Clambake), and it melds some interesting lyrical musings with some sublime rich textures as the band works its way into jam that is reminiscent of the Dead (both keyboardist Paul Wolstencroft and drummer Greg Vasso really step it up). "Slow Down" the reggae flavored song that follows offers a pleasant contrast, a lilting change of pace.

The real revelation for me was Vinyl. I had heard of them but I don't think I was prepared for the group's rich, flavorful sounds. The band's instrumental grooves draw on range of in fluences from Latin to jazz to funk to reggae. The percussion section, brothers Antonio and Sean Onorato really stand out, driving the music forward and yet adding enough subtle flourishes to keep the listener engaged. The opening cut "Bones," also presents some funky guitar and some slinky horn lines. "Funk In 5-4" lives up to its billing, as well with some solid interplay from all eight members. The band concludes with "Imperial Dub," which, as the title suggests, skanks along but is does so over eleven minutes, as a range of instruments and sounds are layered over that basic beat, including harmonica. My roommate tells me that he would zone out on occasion to this track only to perk up a few minutes later as a new color was introduced.

All in all this is a enjoyable sampling of three interesting bands each with its own sound. I suppose if I had any gripe, it's that I wish all three of these sets could be a little longer.