Scouts Of Uzbekistan - " Fun Lovin' Muslims " (Year 001)

Scouts of Uzbekistan are the core members of Mark Carolan and Nick d'Uzbekistan(both from Leicester,UK), plus a floating co-operative of members too numerous to list here. Mark, formerly occupied the drum stools of Pete Bassman's post spaceman 3 outfit, Alphastone and other Rugby(uk) scensters Uberfuzz, and here flexes more of his musical muscles than was exhibited in previous groups. Nick is a sculptor (for website click here) working under the moniker,- Planet Dork, and has been an underground musician for many years, beginning during the D.I.Y. cassette culture scene of the early 80's (see his Blog on said scene here).
The music contained within the digital data stored on "Fun Lovin' Muslims" is minimal avant rock, with a strong rythmical presence of the excellent drumming of Mr Carolan.Starting with a tribute to the father of dischord,by a version of Rhys Chatham's "Guitar Trio" ,the album was mostly recorded live and improvised. Tonal textures are provided by samples of distorted noise bursts, bizarre dialogue recordings and textural lead and bass guitars.There is even the appearence of melancholic melodies in between the guitar driven soundscapes. Something for all the family, although you'd have to be a pretty bizarre family.
Use This Heat, 23 Skidoo, and Can as a point of reference.

Hear Scouts of Uzbekistan on the Radio Here!

(click on the highlighted titles for sample tunes)

Track Listing:

1. Idiot Box Guitar Trio (4:03)#
2. There is NO Hangman! (4:27)
3. God Hates Rock (6:01)
4. Je M'en Fou! (7:32)
5. Flatlining (4:00)
6. Scorched Earth (3:48)
7. 15728 (4:54)
8. Tactics (5:00)
9. A Day in the Afterlife (4:37)
10.Last Words (5:58)
11.Cabin Fever (3:40)
12.The Public are Coming (3:54)

(all compositions by Carolan/d'Uzbekistan
except (#) by Carolan/d'Uzbekistan/Rhys Chatham)

click pic to download