In The Kingdom Of Kitsch You

Leave it to the Rune Grammofon label to release such an inspired piece of musical madness that mixes up prog, rock, jazz, ambient electronics, and just about everything else. Featuring two former members of the sprawling Jaga Jazzist, Shining is a young quartet of musicians who seem very unafraid of mashing genres together in an effort to create something wholly unique. Imagine if Jaga Jazzist let their hair down a bit more and simply freaked-out once in awhile (in several different ways), and you're getting somewhere close to the sort of thing that Shining does.

The opening track of "Goretex Weather Report" sets the bar pretty darn high as strummed, loose-string guitars and horns line up in a building riff before the track unleashes with a blast of heavy prog metal before the track collapses into an organ-grinding soundtrack motif that further evolves into one last blast of shredding guitars pyrotechnics. "REDRUM" follows it up with a short blast of live and programmed drums mingling with stuttering waves of horns, shouts and hollers, and an absolutely romping midsection that doesn't last long enough. The whole thing is over in under 2 minutes and the group is of course quickly on to other things.

In The Kingdom Of Kitsch You Will Be A Monster is literally all over the place, yet it somehow ties itself together with horns. On the quiet, soundtrack-esque "Where Death Comes To Cry," soft moans of horns play out alongside some more wheezy organ for a brief respite in the middle of the album where tracks seem to burst at the seams with ideas. "The Smoking Dog" blends touches of Ennio Morricone soundtracks into a glitchy, carnival-ride of a track that is alternately blasting forth with hyperspeed programmed drums and dropping off into weird melodies (played on a variety of instruments and synths) that could easily accompany stalker-scenes in a horror movie.

If my descriptions above make the album seem a bit hodge-podge, be assured that it most definitely is. At the same time, though, this is one of those releases that you'll want to sit down with and listen to many, many times in order to hear all the different parts so you can air-drum, air-guitar, and air-whatever to them later. In the course of ten tracks and just about forty minutes, four people cram scores of catchy riffs, some seriously thunderous moments, as well as some nice ambience into a short, but definitely not lacking release. In interviews I've read with bands over the years, one thing that seems to come out once in awhile is that all the different bandmembers like different music and the resulting band music is the pulling of all those parts into an overall sound. If that's the case with Shining, I'm glad that they somehow found a way to get everything jammed in here without everything completely falling off the rails. Occasionally mindblowing, and very entertaining.

(from almost cool music reviews)

In the kingdom is Shining's third album and their first on the rune grammofon label. They contain some past members of Norway's current headline grabbing act, Jaga, or Jaga Jazzist as was their previous title. Jorgen Munkeby who was involved in Jaga's Stix album, is Shining's key man playing at a vast array of instruments (church organ, mellotron, piano etc...) some of which I didn't know existed. Can anyone tell me what an akai ewi is? A couple of reviews have stated that Jorgen likes some pretty hard music, Pantera for instance, and that he picked up the saxophone at age 9. Consequently this album is a bit like jazz played over the top some rough metal/ prog. In some instances this is pretty apt description.

Gortex weather report opens the album with a twisted harmonic tune with a light child-like bass line underneath...before launching into a doomsday prog metal riff. It calms done before reappearing at a frantic pace. "Romani" is a mellow jazz piece with a saxophone guiding you through peaks and toughs and some vocal harmonies . "Aleister explains everything" is one of the more rocky tracks, a saxophone over the top of fast prog beat before mutating into a hip-hoppy rhythm, then fading out into what sounds like a sound check, before coming back even harder. About a third through "Magazine RWRK" trumpets blow and the emperor/ gladiator enters the Colosseum ready for the fight to an appreciative crowd.

In the kingdom is one strange album. It's a mixture of some strange styles with very strong jazz influences. I guess through the more crazy, unstructured moments of jazz improv go well with the apparently care free drumming and programming. This album feels like it's going to fall to pieces which will put allot of people off. If you like some more extreme jazz/ electronic stuff, maybe your into squarepusher, then check this out.

source: www.alternativemalta.com

I have just heard the greatest album opener in the

history of album openers. An eerie clanking, a

saxophone disturbingly creeping its way through the

noise. Some hands clapping, a guitar bumbling through,

making a tense buildup and BAM! the

song elevates itself ten feet into the air and then

calms down with some panpipes, lulling you into a trance,

suddenly WHAM! you're elevated out of your seat . Now

THAT is how to make an entrance! Even the title of

this track is amazing: 'Goretex Weather Report'.

Shining are from Norway, and this, their third album

is quite unlike anything I've ever heard. Jazz, Prog,

Goth and Metal all collide into one holy almighty

mess, albeit a very listenable one (not surprisingly

there are two members from Ninja Tune group Jaga

Jazzist in the band - a band that has always

positively surprised). Never once does the pace

falter. In fact its a very exciting ride with new

discoveries at every turn. Yes and its very brainy as

well. This is purely music for the mind and brain.

Even the song titles refer to movies, such as

Kubrick's 'The Shining' or to books such as Herbert's

Dune (31=300=20 (it is by will alone I set my mind in

Motion)). On first listening I was flabbergasted,

salivating with my eyes wide open. On my 200^th

listening I'm wreck(ed?) and STILL discovering new

things in this literally amazing album.

I have a feeling that Shining have set a new template

for music with '... Kingdom of Kitsch ...', and new

standards too. Although some imitators will be spawned

in the near or even late future I'm sure they can't

top this awesome bombastic instant classic.

Recommended for those who thought "Kid A" was

revolutionary!

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