Flavoring their respective instruments with liberal amounts of electronic effects, loops, and delays, the New York City trio
Drums & Tuba creates an instrumental palette of sounds that includes funk, fusion, rock, ambient, and other modern dance strains. As on previous works, the group in no way limits itself to traditional styles of arrangement. This freedom is what allows the band (joined by keyboardists Manny Handerson and Things Fingerton on occasion) to stretch out and cover an impressive amount of ground across 13 tracks (and they could have gone even further). Drummer Tony Nozero sets up the moody, whirling "Topolino" with looped rim shots that sound vaguely North African. Brian Wolff lays gentle tuba and trumpet over top, yielding the set's finest and most serene composition. Guitarist Neal McKeeby shines on "The Sauce Maker," playing a simple, yet effective slide melody over his own chords that comes off as a sort of post-rock version of Santo & Johnny's "Sleepwalk." The group can riff on
James Brown and
Morcheeba with equal ease. A light-handed production by vocal supporter
Ani DiFranco and
Andrew "Goat Boy" Gilchrist ensures that
Vinyl Killer's charms and oddities shine through clearly. ~ John Duffy