69

by A.R. Kane

Overview

With both early EPs and the M/A/R/R/S smash success behind them, A.R. Kane found themselves more than ready to go ahead with a full album in 1988, and did so wonderfully. It's safe to say that the start of the opening track alone, "Crazy Blue," resembles little else recorded that year or any other one -- a few plucked guitar notes, a sudden jazzy scat-vamp by singer Rudi with his truly unique voice, then a more direct poppish strum, the woozy line, "Ooooh...everything's gone crazy now," followed by a series of intense reverbed chime sounds and bongo-like percussion. From there on in, things take a turn for the strangely captivating in song after song. Never simply poppy nor completely arty, and definitely not just the Jesus and Mary Chain/Cocteau Twins fusion most claimed they were (admittedly song titles like "Spermwhale Trip Over" and "Baby Milk Snatcher" easily led to the description!), A.R. Kane here feels playful, mysterious, and inventive all at once, impossible to truly pin down. The best one-two punch on the record comes from "Sulliday," with buried, measured percussion and evocative drones, and "Dizzy," featuring a mesmerizing call-and-response by Rudi with himself, veering between more gentle, direct vocals and echoed shouts, eerily foretelling much of what Tricky would similarly do years later. An unfairly long-lost classic. ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	07/19/2024
Label:	Rocket Girl
UPC:	5016266113519
Rank:	119563

Album Credits

Performance Credits

A.R. Kane   Primary Artist
Art Kane   Primary Artist
Steve Benjamin   Clarinet
Maggie   Vocals (Background)
Ray Shulman   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Stephen Benjamin   Clarinet
Maggie Tambala   Vocals (Background)
Russ Smith   Guitar (Bass)
Bill McGee   Double Bass
Billy McGee   Double Bass
Russ   Bass

Technical Credits

Alex Ayuli   Recording Arranger,Recording,Composer,Producer
Lincoln Fong   Engineer
Ray Shulman   Producer
A.R. Kane   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Rudy Tambala   Recording Arranger,Recording,Producer,Composer
Geoff Halpin   Design
John Geary   Illustrations
Paul Khera   Artwork,Sleeve Art,Cover Design
Art Kane   Arranger,Engineer,Producer,Instrumentation