Description

The Ordinaires – One – Vinyl Record

The Ordinaires were an eclectic band known for their unique blend of rock, jazz, classical, and world music elements. Based in New York City during the late 1980s and early 1990s, they were part of the vibrant downtown music scene that was known for its experimental and avant-garde approach.

Their album One, released in 1989, is characteristic of their style, featuring a mix of instruments typically found in both rock bands and orchestras. The Ordinaires’ music often defied easy categorization, combining elements like powerful brass sections, intricate woodwind parts, and electric guitar, all coalescing into a sound that was both innovative and energetic.

One showcases the band’s ability to blur the lines between different musical genres, creating a sound that is both accessible and challenging. The compositions on this album vary widely, from reinterpretations of classical pieces to original compositions that feature complex arrangements and unexpected twists. This album reflects the diverse musical backgrounds of the band members and their collective approach to creating something truly unique. The Ordinaires’ ‘One’ is a testament to the creative ferment of their time and place, encapsulating a spirit of exploration and the joy of musical experimentation.

The Ordinaires, sadly, were both behind and ahead of the curve. In the early ’80s, their blend of rock aggression and classical instrumentation would have been adopted by fans of European chamber rock ensembles like Soft Verdict and the Lost Jockey, and in the late ’90s, they would have fit perfectly alongside Tortoise, Rachel’s, and the Sea and Cake on the indie post-rock scene.

The opening ‘Brenda,’ which sounds like early Philip Glass jamming with Slint, is a breathtaking start to an enjoyable varied album that veers quite fluidly from hard-charging avant-rock to more delicate melodies and back without breaking a sweat. The highlight is the playful ‘The Dance of the Coco Crispies,’ a ballet-like, multi-part tune that recalls Raymond Scott’s finest work.

The album got its primary notice from the tongue-in-cheek cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’ that closes the proceedings on a note similar to the Kronos Quartet’s notorious version of ‘Purple Haze’: it’s entertaining and a cute musical joke, but compared to the more challenging and involving material that comes before it, it sounds a little trivial.

Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic seal with promo punch in jacket

Bar None / Restless Records 1989

Track Listing
Brenda
Racing Thoughts
The dance Of the Coco Crispies
Slow Boys
Surplus
Death
Imelda
Bacchanal
Death Variation & Waltz
Kashmir