Shalabi Effect -- Debut Release, Alien8 Recordings, 2000. [Last Sigh Magazine]

Track Listing

Disk 1
1. Wyoming
2. Vicious Triangle
3. Mending Holes In A Wooden Heart
4. Aural Florida (Approach)
5. Aural Florida

Disk 2
1. Mokoondi
2. Amber Pets
3. Boardwalk At Apollo Beach
4. Apparitions
5. On The Bowery
6. Leaving A Horse To Die
7. Return To Wake Island

    The Shalabi Effect is the name given to the almost musical love child of Montreal musicians Sam Shalabi, Anthony Seck, Alexandre St-Onge, and Will Eizlini. the four are considered by many to be leaders in the Montreal underground scene, having played with the likes of Aube, Pillow, and No Neck Blues. Their premier album is the culmination of over a month of solid studio work, attempting to create what the band describes as "the ultimate drug album". That description doesn't land too far off.
    The music is very middle eastern and Indian based, with a healthy dose of electronic drones and psychedelic guitars. it has a very mellow and almost free floating feel to it, the kind of music you'd expect when you want to explore the surreal. The tracks are varied for the most part, ranging from almost soundtrack like dirges to twenty minute long jams with little or no overlying structure.
    The fairly outlandish length of the album (well over 2 hours) is rather noticeable, but only in a manner to sort of put things into perspective, giving one time to truly realize the beauty of the sounds encased within.
The cover art is also a very nice touch that matches perfectly with the sounds on the disks.

-- Jed Hartgrove