Th' Legendary Shack Shakers

Pandelirium

BY Keith CarmanPublished Mar 1, 2006

Mocking that which we don’t understand, Bible belt backwoods folk are always an endless source of amusement. Every now and again though, some find their way out of the sticks to deliver something unto the world that which the rest of us "refined” sorts just stare at awestruck thanks to its lack of socialised focus. Welcome to such sensations courtesy of th’ Legendary Shack Shakers, a carnival-esque troupe who meld the most foreign worlds of gospel harmonies, rockabilly’s driving double-bass lines, and Tom Waits-ish clunky rhythms and angular mystery to the most incredible of degrees/results. Naturally, these eclectic and incredibly diverse musical styles sound like they should be nothing more than an amusing accident, but when coupled with the country twang of Hank Williams, big band "oompah” and the over-the-top delivery of a rock’n’roll burlesque show the Firefly Family (the weird folks from House Of 1,000 Corpses) would be slack-jawed by. Pandelirium is the most enticing, enveloping affair where the ear is equally shocked and excited, evoking an atmosphere of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins with more of a sense of humour and a touch more psychobilly goth than overt voodoo creepiness.
(Yep Roc)

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