Electrical Gas

by Mason Williams

Overview

From the album title you have a pretty good clue as to what's in the package: an electric version of the Mason Williams classic. But it's not too electric -- Zoe McCulloch shows great restraint throughout, working over the tune rather than dominating it, and giving a more contemporary feel to everything. That's true for much of the album, in fact, the two guitars complementing rather than fighting each other. She does let loose a bit on "Gypsy Noodle," which has a prog rock lite feel, and gets to show that she has some serious chops. "Destinations of the Sun" offers a bit of a Caribbean tour, with everything from Brazilian rhythms to steel pan along with the guitars. It's a bit of a mishmash, but it works. "Eddie I'm Ready," which is essentially a '50s chord progression, is a sweetly sentimental piece, both in its instrumental and vocal versions -- pleasant enough, but lacking in real inspiration. At times the orchestrations go a little over the top (less, rather than more, would have worked better), but the joy is the way the two lead instrumentalists work together. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	10/11/2005
Label:	Skookum Records
UPC:	0608668000006
Rank:	123042

Tracks

1. Classical Gas 2005
2. Riding the Low Moon
3. The Last Crusade
4. Largo Deluxe
5. Gypsy Noodle
6. Eddie I'm Ready
7. Santa Fe Souvenir
8. Baroque-A-Nova
9. Destinations of the Sun
10. Doot-Doot
11. Country Idyll
12. Eddie I'm Ready

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mason Williams   Primary Artist
Zoe McCulloch   Primary Artist
Hal Blaine   Drums
Art Ellis   Flute
Andy Narell   Drums (Steel)
Alan Steele   Bass,Guitar

Technical Credits

Rick Cunha   Producer
Mason Williams   Composer
Alan Steele   Producer