Soulhat - Experiment on a Flat Plane

Sometimes a band comes full circle. At least after a few listens, the new 
full-length LP, "Experiment on a Flat Plane," helps you remember. Maybe it's
because so much of the album's material is familiar, honed many times in
clubs and other venues over the last four years. But the surprise is that
even after the rockin' but quaint EP released two years ago, Soulhat
forged ahead to create a much cozier, acoustic companion to it's first
major effort, "Outdebox," and reminiscent of 1994's "Too Gone to Be Good."

And by acoustic, we don't necessarily mean quiet. Everything you've come to
expect from this band is there, including some nice electric solo work and
those bluesy, syncopated riffs. But the emphasis has decidedly returned
to songwriting. The arrangements, in turn, vary from understated to
sublime and feature heaps of acoustic guitar and harmonies.

The album opens with the dreamy "Loading," before launching into
"Plastic," a groove-based rocker typical of the "old school" SHAT
Records shuffle. From it's Jon Spencer-inspired, distorted guitar lead
and quirky lyrical outlook on the state of the world ("bottles and cans
are holding hands, credit cards come in any size"), the song sets up
the rest of the album beautifully, though giving nothing away.

But before one can get lost in the groove, "Flat Plane" and "Mailbox,"
return the listener to earth. And though "Skin," and the closer, "Deep
Sleeper," float by in a similarly quiet, unassuming manner, much of the
remainder of the album harkens back to the bluesy, groovy Soulhat
sound that made the band so popular at the beginning of the last
decade.

With skins man Smith leading the way, "My Man Joe" bristles with nearly the
same intensity it started with, nine years ago (and with "Mailbox" are
the oldest tunes on the record). "Things We Do For Cash" and "Moving to
the City" also sizzle, showcasing the trademark rock and blues influences
we like so much ... "Cash" as straight-ahead rock, and "City," which
shows glimpses of Beatles among it's many tasty riffs. Yet even amid 
"the bash," acoustic guitars fuel the ship and on no track more so than
the "WNBA" (back in it's original configuration). The tune finds the band
wrestling with serious country roots, even while the subject matter (a
fellow who loses "his girl" to women's professional basketball) treads
easily within Soulhat's bizarre world imagery (see "For the Drinkers").

But the standout for us on this album is "Skin" (fans may know it as
"Under Your Skin"). It's instantly recognizable, though unless you've
heard it at a live show, it's most likely just typically great
McKinney songwriting that's tickling your brain. Funny how it might
sound as comfortable in Clapton's catalogue as it does in Soulhat's.
"Mailbox" also gets a nice workout, albeit a different one,
completing it's long trip from the live version featured on 1991's
"Live at the Black Cat" and years without being played by the band
(they picked it up again in 1998 after a long absence). 

This will be the general public's first chance to hear the "new band"
in action, with Kevin and Frosty being backed by Mac and Johnny. Sounding
less like the "Kevin McKinney Show" and more like the tight outfit we
expect, the band sounds a bit more focused than the one which
recorded the EP in 1998. And to be sure, the newest members add a lot to
the mix. Johnny is an absolutely outstanding bass player, while Mac's
second guitar, Hofner bass and vocals fill in the gaps that occasionally
plagued the three-piece.

All things considered, there is not a single throwaway on the entire 12-tune
outing. Sure, short tunes bookend it, but even if you tossed out those nice
little ditties, you'd still have an album that proves Soulhat's weight and
muscle is still all about turning-out songs you just can't stop singing to
yourself.

Soulhat - Experiment on a Flat Plane (2000) 
Terminus Records - Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Kevin McKinney - guitar, vocals, SK1
Mac McNabb - Guitar, Hofner Bass
B.E. "Frosty" Smith - Drums, Electronics
Johnny Vogelsang - Fender Bass

1. Loading (0:56)
2. Plastic (3:58)
3. Flat Plane (3:53)
4. Mailbox (4:41)
5. (Going) Gone (3:47)
6. My Man Joe (3:54)
7. WNBA (1:59) 
8. (Things We Do for) Cash (3:27)
9. (Movin' to the) City (3:35)
10. (Under Your) Skin (3:15)
11. (Emotional) Microwave (5:08)
12. Deep Sleeper (1:38)

Produced, recorded and mixed by Stuart Sullivan
Recorded at Arlyn Studio & Merou Grotto
Mixed at Brooklyn Bridge
Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York, N.Y.
Shat Records Publishing, BMI
Brother Bartholomew Music, BMI
chickenfriedeggmusic, ASCAP
Cover Art by Adam Bork for Earthpig Photography