Album ReviewMesser Chups / crazy price(ipecac)

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

Mike Patton’s Ipecac label has a reputation for releasing music that is, by conventional standards, pretty far out. With that in mind, if Ipecac were to put out a “surf” album, it would stand to reason that the album would be laden with more Theremin than you can shake a stick at and would have a version of Hungarian song that, according to legend, was responsible for at least 17 suicides.
Russia’s Messer Chups’ latest, Crazy Price, fits the bill. Surf guitar, rockabilly bass, vintage synthesizer, an organ, and samples from sci-fi and horror flicks all figure prominently into their sound. With full horn sections, harp, scatting and hip hop beats rounding it all out.
Some cuts (“In 3 Minutes Till Massacre,” “Gangster They Called Horizon-Man”) lend touches of surf and exotica into beat driven electronic numbers, while others(“Satan Jeans,” “Ghost Rides To West”) are total retro surf and psychobilly numbers with samples and electronic flourishes. In fact, it is often difficult to ascertain what is live instrumentation and what is sampled. However they did it, Messer Chups have crafted an album just like an amazing B-movie: despite its flaws, it is weird, enchanting, and will keep you coming back for more. Far out, man.

- john watson