The Birth of the Cruel (1988)

About this title: It's reasonably safe to say that there aren't a whole lot of albums that include covers of Henry Mancini and Albert Ayler, but here's one. The deliciously titled The Birth of the Cruel is the skewed product of a quartet of Californians with an appreciation of the darkly melodic styles of musicians like Ayler, hence their choice of Ornette Coleman's great dirge "Lonely Woman," as well as their lugubrious treatment of "Moon River," and their inclusion of the Berlioz theme that's been used in every other grade-D satanic cult movie. The group tends to eschew overt soloing, preferring a massed ... read more

Tracks:

1. Jukebox in the East River [Cruel Frederick/Joh]
2. White Logic [Cruel Frederick/Joh]
3. That Damned Music [Cruel Frederick/Joh]
4. Moon River [Mancini/Mercer]
5. The East Is Red [Public Domain]
6. Lonely Woman [Coleman]
7. Amazing Grace [Newton]
8. Ghosts [Ayler]
9. Bells [Ayler]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.