The music created by Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog is a mix of everything that makes the avant-garde guitarist tick. Different styles sit side by side on Connection, which showcases a challenging, exciting, and extremely rewarding listen from angular start to its fully inspired finish.
Joining Ribot (guitars, tres, dobro, bass, vocals) as the formation of the core group are Shahzad Ismaily (bass, electronics, vocals) and Ches Smith (drums, percussion, electronics, vocals) but there are lots of guests who flush out the sound throughout Connection.
Opening with the title track the band deploys clanging indie-rock with Bob Dylan-like vocal phrasing around jagged, jazzy guitars. That indie-rock feeling also flows out during the propulsive rhythmic banger “Soldiers In the Army of Love” which reminds ears of Yo La Tengo with its DIY vibe and catchy chorus. The grooving cover of Arthur Schwartz/Howard Dietz’ “That’s Entertainment” plays like a relentless Sonic Youth track mixed with guest Anthony Coleman’s Farfisa.
While the group is comfortable in the rock vein, they are incredibly fluid, moving in any direction. “Ecstacy” plays like a lost Tom Waits number that has great guitar work from Ribot and a jazz freakout to close. The angsty banging/feedback of “Heart Attack” complete with word salad vocals, Spanish phrases, and Beatles lyrics is a revved-up mover, while the soaring exploratory jazz of “Swan”, augmented with James Brandon Lewis saxophone, is adventurously extended with a contemplative guitar finale.
Not every outing works as well, as “Subsidiary” ominously, and so very slowly, builds with feedback to overloaded metallic mayhem in front of hit-and-miss poetic angst. However the seven minutes never fully coalesce, while “No Name” is all over the sonic map diving into pseudo-disco funk before bizarre chatter interrupts the music to end.
However, the good far outweighs the bad here as Ribot and crew save their best for the end of the album. “Order of Protection” is simply a gorgeous excursion with Greg Lewis supporting on Hammond B3 organ as Ribot digs deep for an emotionally intense, Eddie Hazel-like guitar showcase: a jaw-dropping sonic soul workout. Immediately shifting gears the group gives their twisted spin on Cumbia music titled “Crumbia” which expertly injects a nightmare circus vibe into the mix around Oscar Noriega’s clarinet, whistles, and handclaps wrapping up the strong album.
The musical conversations span different genres and styles as Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog hit new highs on Connection as the band throws out any sort of expectations and just delivers highly vibrant music that goes where the spirit takes it.
