Anton Fier

Wherein the co-founder and acknowledged leader of the Golden Palominos puts out a solo recording with many of the same musicians and, surprise, achieves something very much like a Palominos album. The general structures are the same: the deep, funky dance rhythms, Fier's thick drum style, Bill Laswell's cavernous bass. Buckethead appears on several tracks, injecting a more overtly rockish aspect into the music, but otherwise the main difference is the presence of the vocalist Phew. But even so, she assumes the role laid out by numerous female vocalists with this crew, talk-singing her way coolly through the pieces, casting verbal asides in a shrugging manner. The music is similar enough to other Palominos projects that one even gets the impression that there's some recycling going on, but Fier certainly does what he does very well. One interesting note: On the second version of "Dreamspeed," Fred Frith is sampled from his 1975 Guitar Solos album. The songs have a convincing solidity and drive even if the creative sphere they occupy is relatively restricted. A good groove record but one inessential to all but Palominos completists. ~ Brian Olewnick, All Music Guide