Get Hustle – Rollin’ In The Ruins

Get Hustle – Rollin’ In The Ruins / 2005 Three One G / 5 Tracks / http://www.gethustle.com / http//www.threeoneg.com / Reviewed 29 November 2005

This is a much slower, more nuanced version of noise than practically anything else put out by Three One G. Even though tracks like “Black Stallion Medallion” are still well under three minutes, the psychedelic-infused brand of noise that Get Hustle have spent over a decade perfecting is dense enough to really allow listeners to float on the melodies put forth for longer than the sheer length of the track would necessarily allow. “Rollin’ In The Ruins” has much more than an instrumentally-driven sound to it, but rather is an atmospheric piece that is fueled by these instruments. In a sense, lead vocalist Valentine is following the lead put out there by Patti Smith and Grace Slick in creating in eir voice something more than a conveyance of lyrics. In a sense, Valentine’s vocals may just be the most emotional, driving facet of Get Hustle found on “Rollin’ In The Ruins”.

This is perfectly shown by the groove gotten into during “Brothers & Others”; this extended track (Get Hustle almost breaks into the four-minute realm) has such fury at points that the gravity of the music is similar to that put forth by a symphony. The collection of different-sounding arrangements really gives “Brothers & Others” a very urban track; some of the guitar tracks sound like waiting trucks at times, while the drums sound like an engine putting. The continual shifting sounds that take the stratosphere during “W.S.T.P.” are definitely influenced by the free jazz of an earlier period, but at times still have an organic component to them. Much like the urban landscape of the previous track, the theramin-like bird calls present on “Don Quixote & I” provide listeners with some sort of referent to the outside world.

The extended length of “Don Quixote & I” (it almost breaks fifteen minutes) is somewhat of a misstatement. The first four or five minutes of the track are surprisingly radio-friendly for Get Hustle, but as each minute ticks by Get Hustle gets more strung out and experimental. While the break-down of the track is an interesting departure for Get Hustle, there seems to be some problems surrounding its complete enjoyment. First off, the aforementioned strung-out nature of the track really relies on repetitive riffs and roundabouts that make listening to the entire track untenable. Get Hustle is truly experimental, and in this time of aping acts changing up classics only slightly and rebranding them as their own, Get Hustle comes through with something familiar yet ultimately different from anything currently out.

Top Track: Black Stallion Medallion

Rating: 5.5/10

[JMcQ]