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Hazmat Modine: Cicada
ByDistinct from most commentators, Schuman characterizes Hazmat Modine not by genre, but by origin "because of the eclectic nature of the band and its instrumentation [it] is very New York." However, it's in continental Europe that the group has built its most solid fan base, touring summer festivals and smaller venues regularly, with this sophomore album released both there and in New York.
The title suggests a metamorphosis transformation of embryonic forms into the fully flighted creature. Pieces such as the title track or "Child of a Blind Man,'' where the band is joined by Natalie Merchant and ska-styled Gangbé Brass Band, depict just such a delicate evolving creation. But the style, typically deemed "unclassifiable," is more that of a swarmbeautiful in its intricacy, multiple in its sources and overwhelming in its effect. That Schuman is able to take such a juggernaut from concert stage to bandstand across two continents says as much for his stamina as it does his musical vision.
Most of the other members have other obligations to fulfill between an array of New York scenes, ranging from the Philharmonic Orchestra to the Latin jazz of Grupo los Santos. With such a repertoire of member talents and his own grounding in all forms of Americana to draw from, Schuman has taken over twelve years to build up the stability of his personnel. This now gives him the opportunity to broaden his own compositional palettewith all but two of the tracks under his namebut also to draw on the compositional input of almost all other band members. The Hazmat style certainly gravitates around his personage, and the Bowery lyrics are almost exclusively his, but it is truly the interactions between the whole band that makes it so vibrant both live and on disc. Even if Cicada doesn't surpass the novelty or the awards of the group's debut, Bahamut, it is a CD of spectacular aural aurora; one that brings an authentic, multi-referenced, American approach to the concept of world music. If there's any doubt, the closing "Dead Crow" even features the Kronos Quartet.
Track Listing
Mocking Bird, Child of a Blind Man, Two Forty Seven, Cicada,Buddy, In Two Years, I've Been Lonely For So Long, The Tide, Ebb Tide, Walking Stick, So Glad, Cotonou Stomp, Dead Crow.
Personnel
Hazmat Modine
band / ensemble / orchestraWade Schuman: diatonic harmonica, guitar, banjitar, lead vocals; Bill Barrett: diatonic harmonica, chromatic harmonica, sheng, vocals; Joseph Daley: tuba; Pamela Fleming: trumpet, flugelhorn; Steve Elson: baritone and tenor saxophones, clarinet, duduk, flute; Richard Huntley: drums, percussion; Peter Smith: guitar; Michael Gomez: acoustic and electric guitars, banjitar, steel guitar.
Album information
Title: Cicada | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: JARO
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About Hazmat Modine
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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