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by Donny Kutzbach
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It’s a shame that in America, Dexy’s Midnight Runners will now and forever be remembered as a one-hit wonder for “Come On Eileen.” Bandleader Kevin Rowland and his Birmingham, England-based collective were in their “Celtic Soul Brothers” phase—rife with vigorous fiddles and overalls—when the infectious “Eileen” hit. Bolstered by a video clip that is now almost emblematic of the early MTV experience, “Come On Eileen” was the biggest single of 1982 and Dexy’s were considered an overnight sensation. In fact, Rowland started the band four years prior and they issued their first album in 1980. And for as different as “Come On Eileen” and the album it came from (Too-Rye-Ay) sounded upon release, that debut, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels, was even more jarringly original and refreshing. It is the brilliance of Young Soul Rebels that ultimately makes the marginalization of Dexy’s legacy so criminal.
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by Eric Kendall
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Since their inception almost a decade ago, Austin’s indie/electronic act the Octopus Project have forged their niche in the instrumental rock world. With Hexadecagon they have finally succeeded in entering a league all their own. Their style is a stew consisting of equal parts post-rock, dance, prog, and even minimalism. Yes, minimalism. As layered and busy as the songs sound, the musicians themselves have cited composers Terry Riley and Steve Reich as major influences, especially on Hexadecagon, where patience and thoughtful execution take precedence over blind experimentation (an easy trap for instrumental music to fall into).
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