Sensual Passport by The Pleasure Class
Beach Sloth review:
"The Pleasure Class infuses a strong sense of playfulness in their experimental exuberant “Sensual Passport”. Reminiscent of similarly structured eccentric sound explorers like Blectum from Blechdom and tUnE-yArDs, the way these pieces are structured defy categorization. While they are quite unique in their presentation the songs are joyful and celebratory in nature. Over the course of the album the Pleasure Class utilizes unusual polyrhythms, strange dusty samples, and sunny melodies. By far the highlight of the album are the poetic cryptic lyrics, that are rather unknowable, much like the unusual arrangements themselves.
Easily the best title any song has been named ever is the sample-laden work of “Meowage”. With this piece the Pleasure Class open the album on a high note as synthesizers and samples meld into a strange otherworldly whole. Strangely catchy is the summery “Monument”. Beats abound throughout the song showing off some incredibly impressive rhythms. Rather joyful in spirit is the Caribbean inflected “Philip Glass in Aruba”. A bizarre funk emerges out of the spirited performance of “Party Lips” making it quite infectious. Infused with a great deal of humor is the pointed “Mr. Wonderful” whose canned samples add to the song’s overall mood. Lounge-like in temperament is the whacked out organ wheeze of “Under the Lawn”. On “Bango Tango” the Pleasure Class bring the album to a happy conclusion.
“Sensual Passport” displays the infinite talent and unique vision of the Pleasure Class."
Tracklist
| 1. | Meowage | 3:53 |
| 2. | Domino | 3:15 |
| 3. | Monument | 4:41 |
| 4. | Philip Glass in Aruba | 3:42 |
| 5. | Party Lips | 3:21 |
| 6. | Metal Song | 4:47 |
| 7. | Mr. Wonderful | 3:34 |
| 8. | Cop Show | 4:38 |
| 9. | Under the Lawn | 3:20 |
| 10. | Bango Tango | 5:53 |
Credits
The Pleasure Class is:
Michelle “Wendy & Lisa” Adams: Bontempi saxophone, piano horn, slat drum, bass drum, alto melodica, wood xylophone, tube xylophone, Sesame Street Sounds, steel drum
Dan “Le Bon James” Nelson: Yamaha CS-5 synthesizer, Prophet V synthesizer, Roland TR-606 drum machine, Korg DW-6000 synthesizer, SIEL MDP-40 drum machine, percussion, kalimba
Shari “Dr. Shé” Robertson: Casio SK-1 synthesizer, Realistic Concertmate 500 synthesizer, Yamaha Portasound synthesizer, piano, xylophone, Bontempi sax, piano horn, steel drum, alto, soprano, and grey melodicas, toy guitar, zither, tambourine, wood xylophone, cowbell
Lexa “Bjørn Björk” Walsh: Animal Farm, Animal Band, vocals, Tudor xylophone, Bontempi saxophone, wooden xylo, chickie may pole, Sesame Street Silly Sentences, Wiggles guitar, cankles, seed shaker, Mister Wonderful & The Perfect Husband, finger chimes, toy piano, bass guitar
All songs by The Pleasure Class
Lyrics by Dan Nelson and Lexa Walsh
Recorded by Mike Blodgett at Electric Sparkyland Studio, Oakland, CA
Mixed by Eli Crews at Figure 8 Recording, Brooklyn, NY
Mastered by Mark Gergis in Hanoi, Vietnam
Cover art by Dan Walsh, “Folio C (Plate II)” (2015). © Dan Walsh
Cover art photographed by Matthew Trygve Tung, courtesy Pace Prints
Band photo by Cassia Leet
Thanks to Dan Walsh, OMCA, Raub Roy, Mike, Eli, & G-Spot
thepleasureclass@gmail.com
© 2015 Plink Plonk Music, All Rights Reserved.
License
All rights reserved.
With members of the all-women toy instrument group Toychestra and analog synth project Boron, The Pleasure Class uses synths, percussion, toy instruments and samples to make groovy avant-garde pop in the tradition of The Books, The Residents, and CAN. RIYL Animal Collective, Radiohead, Talkdemonic, tUnE-yArDs, and Daedelus.