Jelloslave
Touch It
Label: Sugarfoot Music
There’s been some discussion lately about the avante-garde jazz scene in the Twin Cities, MN.
In addition to stellar local jazz groups including The Bad Plus, Happy Apple and Electropolis, there’s another group worth knowing about… Jelloslave.
The foursome’s cellos, tablas and drums make the most unique drones, squawks, moans and growls you can imagine from an oft-unexplored instrumental repertoire.
With a penchant for psych-improv with a twist, Jelloslave’s new album, Touch It, is an ambiental auditory journey into the rabbit hole, with fulgent harmonies and discordant forget-me-nots coalescing into a seven-track rock opera gone wrong.
For instance, “Tangoed Up in You” is a 3 minute electronically modified super concerto you’ll want to replay a few times before going to the next track.
“We improvised the first part of the Tangos and then played the Tango down…and then sped it up to warp speed!” says group co-founder Jacqueline Ferrier-Ultan. “Pretty wacky stuff huh? We actually did it as a joke at first but then we all loved it so there.” Insane.
The album’s title track is simply the best and currently picking up steam on local radio, and the group played a few dates in NYC this May.
It may have been the Beatles or E.L.O. that pioneered the pairing of classical instruments with rock music, but we prefer our cellos the Jelloslave way – trippy, fuzzed out WTF.
Check out Jelloslave in Minneapolis Friday, June 30th for the Be Girl Be Night at Nomad (backing up Desdamona), July 9th at the Kitty Cat Klub and August 11th at the Rogue Buddha Gallery.
