Blue Hen Records
2006
Heaven Is Creepy
About This Album
Most instrumental rock albums aren't worth the time it takes to listen to them. They're usually too pretentious, with pickers trying to play free-form jazz/blues licks without the ability to remain focused. Jim Campilongo, the cowboy noir picker from San Francisco who moved to New York to become an in-demand session player and frequent collaborator with Norah Jones, doesn't have that problem. The tracks on this mostly instrumental set are packed with ideas and occupy a unique musical landscape that combines Western American twang, Spaghetti Western atmosphere, surf guitar dynamism, jazzy dissonance. and a blue, cinematic sweep that's almost visual in its approach. Campilongo knows enough to keep his compositions short and sweet, concentrating on dynamics, mood, and tension to keep the tunes interesting. "Heaven Is Creepy," the title tune, has a sinister, late-night, film noir feel, accented by bassist Tim Luntzel's swooping, low notes and drummer Dan Rieser's minimal percussion. Campilongo's bent notes scream through the air like a wounded ambulance limping away from the scene of an accident. "Nellie Bly" has the feel of a Texas swing dance tune, with Campilongo producing pedal steel-like notes on his guitar, and tapping the strings to produce harmonics that hang in the air over the double-time cadence of the rhythm section.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,5,6,7,8,9,10 and 11)

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