BRAVO, comrades, these three tracks rock balls-out in a most shameless fashion! The compositions, arrangements, virtuosity and the recording quality itself are all absolutely outstanding ... the percussion, especially, but I'll have to admit to a certain degree of bias. I especially like the build-up and release of energy and tension with the sudden stops and re-starts on Track One. I don't wanna upset the pipers, buuuut ... wouldn't it be possible to give the percussion a couple of soloing opportunities, maybe over a dual drone or some simple ostinatos or something? Also, I think some call-and-response, back-and-forth play between the two pipers, with a wide left-and-right stereo pan to separate them, would be really cool and would possibly capture some of the energy and mischief of your live performances. These are just small ideas meant to showcase the grand musicianship of the three of you as individual players. Hell, how do you improve upon perfection? The Old Ones are stirring pleasantly in the slimy beds of their watery tombs ..!

I'm so looking forward to this CD! I remember how sad I was when I learned last year (after the fact) that the AZ Ren Faire was Tartanic's "farewell tour" (though it made me very happy that I had caught a couple of those shows). Then, this year brought a new version of "Tartanic" and so I (somewhat skeptically) checked it out. It wasn't quite the same, but they did sound pretty good live.

I had enough money budgeted that day for two new CDs (how can I leave the Faire without new music?). Encouraged by the live performance, I grabbed their new studio album. Hmm. Let's just say it was not exactly what I was expecting (in fact, I don't even think I've touched it since the initial listening). I should add, though, that I was much happier with my other purchase that day - David Macejka's "Poi For Gadje". Ironically, I had bought it earlier in the day at a drum shop without recognizing the name and had no idea that he was/is a member of Tartanic. LOL.

All of which is a longwinded way of saying that I am very thankful that Teribus was formed. I loved seeing and love listening to (the old) Tartanic and I love "Shrine", so it was absolutely no surprise to me that what I've heard so far from this new album sounds very cool. Admittedly, that's not everything you have uploaded, as my dialup has the speed of molasses during a Cincinnati winter, but I'm confident that I'll love the rest of it, too. Now, if we can just get you guys to play a couple states WEST of Texas... (*hint, hint*) :-)


EDIT: Visiting the MySpace page reminded me that I never bought "Blown"! It somehow got lost in the shuffle of dozens (hundreds?) of "Things I Want But Can't Afford Right Now". Now it'll have to get bumped up near the top of the list and hopefully I can get it in time to tide me over until the Teribus album comes out. Question: in another bit of irony (considering what I just typed), I just noticed that David Macejka also played on a track on "Blown". Did you have a dual drum thing going there, Kevin, or did you sit that one out?

Back on topic, BTW, my getting sidetracked gave "Rockibus" enough time to load and it kicks gluteus maximus!