Unglued Reviews

Street Drum Corps is a trio of percussionists who explore rhythms and beats using a variety of instruments, from traditional drum kits through to kitchenware. Body Sounds 101 is even, as the name suggests, comprised entirely of percussion generated by the human body.

While the pursuit of rhythm makes for a kinetic live show, on a record percussive beats alone for extended periods can be less than compelling for a wider audience, and so most tracks here feature outside embellishments. Rabbit is augmented with synth noise atop the beats, while Wrecks is completed by wordless vocals, a melody and scratches by album producer DJ Lethal. Even with this added sonic depth, however, the Corps still keep things brief and to the point: the album clocks in at only 23 minutes, with eight tracks (two of which are less than 30 seconds long).

The final two tracks, Flaco 81 and BANG!!, are actually the most purely percussion-based tracks on offer, and it’s worth noting that ultimately the former is the most interesting cut on the record (the latter is overlong).

While this self-titled album is an interesting experiment, the resulting soundscapes (perhaps inevitably) have less substance than the output of the group’s many high-profile previous collaborators (such as Bert McCracken of The Used) and I’m sure that it is as an added guest percussion section to existing bands that the trio’s future will be strongest.

Owen Heitmann