The London Electric Guitar Orchestra's (or L.E.G.O.) first album is a collection of dead-serious avant-garde compositions and structured improvisations lightened up by spoofy, humorous numbers. It takes you from the marvelously abstract to the hilariously stupid and back. Uptight experimental aficionados should stay away. The orchestra consists of seven human guitarists (John Bisset, Vivienne Corringham, Jörg Graumann, Ivor Kallin, Steve Mallaghan, Rick Nogalski, and Nigel Teers), plus a robot-like automaton playing a two-string guitar made of Duplo building blocks -- his name is Bogo, he modeled for the cover shot, and this appears to be his first recording session. The album kicks off with scenes from domestic life. An operetta of sorts, "Sevendas" provides the first of a handful of highlights. After a chaotic graphic score piece ("Sheet Music"), the group launches into a mutated surf anthem ("Humper"). Fred Frith's graphic score "Dry Stone II" gets an inspired treatment; so does Burkhard Beins' "System," a modular piece made of vocal drones, staccato guitar notes, and silences. "Kite" is delightfully inane, a four-chord motif with each chord repeated once more every time the figure is repeated. The most conceptually advanced piece is "Remembrance Day Parade," where each orchestra member walks in circles around guest Adam Bohman, holding a tape recorder playing one of seven tapes he created out of L.E.G.O. guitar solos. Less-downright accessible than 13 Lumps of Chease but not as serious and challenging as 7 Wholls, Kneel Down Like a Saint Gorilla and Stop is an album filled with entertaining contradictions. ~ François Couture, All Music Guide

‘Glenn Branca, I’ve thought, has always used the idea of an electric guitar orchestra just to make noise, whereas these people create textures that are well orchestrated.' —MIXING IT, BBC RADIO THREE

‘The music reminds me of an Autumn walk by the Baltic seashore … the rough guitar sounds slowly becoming denser and relaxing into small subtle nuances.‘
—BAD ALCHEMY

TRACKLIST:

1.    Sevendas                              John Bisset, Richard Sanderson            (4:01)

2.    Sheet Music/Humper                                                                       (4:44)

3.    Bonnie Georgie Campbell        Anonymous Composer/Traditional        (2:05)

4.    Dry Stone II                          Fred Frith                                            (5:10)

5.    System                                 Burkhard Beins                                    (3:25)

6.    Frög                                                                                               (6:16)

7.    Haey!                                                                                             (:27)

8.    Dervish                                                                                          (5:59)

9.    Kite                                      Richard Sanderson                              (3:09)

10.    Den Grit Asshole                                                                          (2:44)

11.    Remembrance Day Parade    Adam Bohman                                    (4:48)

12.    Any Shoes                                                                                    (1:10)

13.    Span                                                                                            (4:36)