The Bellwether Project

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Engineering assistant to some one hundred Col. Bill Laswell productions, Layng Martine III struck out on his own several years ago and from his observation post in New York City has produced some very fine tracks as Corporal Blossom, many of them collected on his eponymous debut from a couple of years back. Slang is his latest brainchild, cooked up together with bassist Dave Schools of Widespread Panic (a band with nine releases to its name), buddies in the trenches since ten years back.

'The Bellwether Project' began fermenting in their minds in late 1998 when the two started putting beats together with bass and saw that it was good. Martine called upon a few other musicians to collaborate, including guitarists Eric McFadden, Jon Hyde and Pete Droge, the horns of Viperhouse, scratchmaster DXT and the inimitable Lori Carson, the latter two acquaintances from time well-spent in Laswell's bunker at Greenpoint Studios.

On this thoroughly enjoyable outing (Southern fried rock meets illbient?), there is groove and funk aplenty, as demonstrated by tracks like 'Field Guide to Snapping' and 'Dirtwater Telegraph'. The album's centrepiece, 'What a Day May Bring', is an uplifting little 'good-morning' ambient masterpiece, while Carson contributes lyrics and vocals to 'Little Bird', an absolutely perfect pop ballad. Too good to miss.