Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Open Field

reviewed by anna battista

The band with one of the most complicated biblical name (meaning "the spoil speeds, the prey hastens", the name of Isaiah's son), has come back with an EP that precedes by just a few weeks the new album Blues Du Jour. Recorded in East Kilbride by David Scott in 2002 and 2003 and with a little help from The Pastels and Bill Wells, Open Field is similar for many nuances and feelings to previous album From a Summer to Another Summer (an Egypt to Another Egypt), though it sounds more accessible.

This EP marks a new era for Maher's founder Tori Kudo, who has indeed found a family here in Scotland in many of the local musicians (check the track "Tokyo Okinawa Scotland"), influencing them and in turn being influenced by them. If "Sunrise", the second track on this EP, is a typical Maher track, laid back and totally instrumental, the track that gives the name to this beautiful record, has more of an up tempo beat while "What's Your Business Here Elijah?" is a heart-rending melody sung by Tori in a broken and sweet voice. With such a brilliant EP, there are good chances the new album will be totally mind-blowing. Just wait and see. {www.geographicmusic.com, www.dominorecordco.com}

Issue 17, November 2003