Casablanca Moon/Desperate Straights

Be the first to write a review

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide
Avant popsters Slapp Happy get the two-fer treatment from Virgin on this 1999 CD. The first 11 tracks were originally released in 1974 as the group's eponymously titled Virgin label debut and are not the same versions of the tunes recorded earlier with Faust, first intended for release by Polydor, and ultimately issued by Recommended Records -- and by Cuneiform with bonus tracks -- under the title Acnalbasac Noom. The group's songwriting had improved since 1972's Sort of...Slapp Happy, and Dagmar Krause's German chanteuse-influenced vocals were presented in catchier settings, although some prefer the comparatively unsophisticated and rockish Faust-backed versions from Acnalbasac Noom to the re-recorded Casablanca Moon...
See more details below
CD
$13.29
BN.com price
(Save 5%)$13.99 List Price
Other sellers (CD)
  • All (4) from $8.21   
  • New (4) from $8.21   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide
Avant popsters Slapp Happy get the two-fer treatment from Virgin on this 1999 CD. The first 11 tracks were originally released in 1974 as the group's eponymously titled Virgin label debut and are not the same versions of the tunes recorded earlier with Faust, first intended for release by Polydor, and ultimately issued by Recommended Records -- and by Cuneiform with bonus tracks -- under the title Acnalbasac Noom. The group's songwriting had improved since 1972's Sort of...Slapp Happy, and Dagmar Krause's German chanteuse-influenced vocals were presented in catchier settings, although some prefer the comparatively unsophisticated and rockish Faust-backed versions from Acnalbasac Noom to the re-recorded Casablanca Moon tracks, which are backed by session musicians and even a string section. In either case, the lyrics are witty and oddball without being pretentious. Tracks like "Mr. Rainbow" recall Yoko Ono's early-'70s song-oriented material, with an important difference: Krause's vocals are much better than Ono's, while just as distinctive. "The Secret" could even be a potential commercial single. The remaining tracks here are from 1975's Desperate Straights, a surprisingly melodic album especially considering that it is a collaborative effort with Henry Cow, light on the art school angst and heavy on the playfulness, which one would hardly expect from such determined socialists as these. But here it is: "Some Questions About Hats" sounds like a Kurt Weill outtake, and "A Worm Is at Work" gallops along with a sweet tune. Krause remains restrained and not given to flights of horrible fancy. "Strayed" is reminiscent of Kevin Ayers' brand of art rock, and most of the songs clock in under two minutes. But never fear: the album ends on the eight-minute "Caucasian Lullaby," a minimal woodwind piece that suddenly bursts into one last jab of Krause-ian despair. With a total of 24 tracks, this two-fer is a worthy purchase with a generous helping of Slapp Happy's idiosyncratic yet often accessible work from the 1970s. ~ Richie Unterberger & Ted Mills
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 12/28/1999
  • Label: Emi Import
  • UPC: 724383917426
  • Catalog Number: 839174
  • Sales rank: 61,702

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Slapp Happy Primary Artist
Mark Singer Drums
Technical Credits
Steve Morse Producer
Peter Blegvad Liner Notes
Simon Heyworth Producer
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously