Black Taj - Beyonder [Amish Records]

Late summer skateboards clicking along the sidewalk comfort my psyche. Ditto BLACK TAJ's second release Beyonder.

The genetics of Black Taj draw from Brylawski and Tenmile's exploits in the Folk, Blues, World Roots trio Idyll Swords, typicalis Fahey, Basho, Kottke and Bhatt. Their instrumental cache encompasses Sitar-Guitar, Tamboura, Cumbus, Oud, Rubab and Baglama Saz. Both are well versed fret-tarians of lead and rhythm guitar. The family tree also reveals an eight year (90-98) Brylawski/Popson noise/math collaboration in the Chapel Hill N.C. based band Polvo. The Black Taj lineup is Dave Brylawski (guitar/vocals), Grant Tennille (guitar/vocals), Steve Popson (bass) and Tom Atherton (drums).

From that résumé I picture Black Taj a quasi-speckled analog hybrid of Steve Albini's band Shellac and the Master Musicians of Jajouka. Based on their range of experience I would not disbelieve their capability to pull that off, but I am here to enlighten you. Beyonder is eight tracks of Boomer Generation 70s Rock that even Gen Y can, with a bribe of using the car Saturday night, appreciate. I am not going to make comparisons to Steve Miller, Yes, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, Heart or Hendrix because that would be so uncool to do. I have a reputation to maintain.

The hell with it! I even think Bob Lefsetz would agree with me on this one. At the time I enjoyed those bands and I want to believe that connection to my heyday is living on. I'm 52 years on the way to here and listening to this compact disc is a feel good summer drive in a '69 Dodge hemi-powered V8 beast on a two lane road speeding west out of Joliet to a kegger in Moline. Avoid the tollway. There are wardens in the woods.

Beyonder's production melds toe tapping head bobbing slabs of U.S.D.A. Rock with transparent primordial harmonies. The bass line drives on through repetitive guitar riffs and vocals stand more as an instrument than a message. Granted, there are no huge steps into unexplored territory, but each listen has my foot tapping and my gray haired head bobbing. My greatest anticipation is the next release combine more eastern instrumentation as demonstrated on Damascus (track 4) and forge a distinctive style indicative of the name Black Taj. Come on, BLACK TAJ evokes cross-legged Sitar pickers and rhythmic Tabla percussionists with fists held to the sky in defiance. No indication of any tour in support of this release.

Track-by-Track; 1. Move Me [Led Zep deep throats YES, fav track] 2. Fresh Air Traverse [Sick smooth vocals, dual lead guitars] 3. Cold Comfort [Heavy contrast, "Your love is cold"] 4. Damascus [Retrospective reverb] 5. Spacewash [Arena rock instrumental] 6. Only For A Moment [Fly Like An Eagle] 7. LA Shift ["You'll never hear surf music again"] 8. Little Child/Idyll Hill [weak]

Released May 13, 2008 [running time 33:57]
Previous releases BLACK TAJ - Black Taj [Amish Records | October 21, 2005] CD

J Niemoth August 2008