Ceramic Dog - Connection (Knockwurst Records, 2023)

By Gary Chapin

Marc Ribot has made an art form out of the unified poly-genre-pop-amorous plus avant improv vision that is Ceramic Dog’s wild wheelhouse. Connection continues the track record of escalating excellence, following just a coupla years on 2021’s Hope (reviewed here). The outstanding trio is joined, as usual, by a number of outstanding guests.

Anthony Coleman’s Farfisa organ is like a character in the story, or an Elmore Leonard genre flag. James Brandon Lewis’ turn on the fourth track, “Swan,” reminds us of Ribot’s long time fascination with the music of Albert Ayler. Ches Smith absolutely kills on that one. The bassline on a couple of these pieces brings to mind—I am not making this up—Adam Clayton from U2, that repetitive, super-in-the-pocket drive. It all works.

The unifying element is, appropriately, the trio itself. The “size” of their sound combined with liberal and expansive play with electronics make this larger than its nominal threesome. I’ve commented before on Ches Smith’s creation of ground (in other contexts), but Shahzad Ismaily is equally as central. Ribot’s guitar is such a presence wherever it’s being played. His evocative anarcho-pomo-sledgehammer-jazz-surf sound has become its own genre. How often I hear a guitar and think “that’s Ribot,” only to find it's someone else sounding that way.

Ribot’s lyrics are also worth commenting upon. These are songs, punkish but not punk. All but one of the three vocal pieces has words by Ribot, and that one is a fantastic rendering of “That’s Entertainment.” (Again, with Coleman’s Farfisa!) Ribot’s way with words and poetics is a thing of beauty. (We reviewed his book, Unstrung: Rants and Stories of a Noise Guitarist , here.) The musical poems are complex, subtle, and fun.

Connection hits an emotional peak with “Order of Protection” (not included on the vinyl!) an anthemic rocker featuring the trio with the Hammond B3 of Greg Lewis. On track 4, Ribot lets us know that he doesn’t want a thing “unless you give me ecstasy.” (I’m assuming he’s not talking about the chemical, here). For the Guitar/Hammond B3 conflagration that is track 9, Ribot gives us the ecstasy. 

CERAMIC DOG:

Marc Ribot: guitars, tres (4), dobro (5), bass (2, 3, 9), vocals
Shahzad Ismaily: bass, electronics, vocals
Ches Smith: drums, percussion, electronics, vocals

with

SPECIAL GUESTS

Syd Straw, vocals (4)
Anthony Coleman, Farfisa (4, 8, 10)
James Brandon Lewis, sax (5, 7) (appears courtesy of ANTI- Records)
Greg Lewis, Hammond B3 organ (9)
Oscar Noriega, clarinet (10)
Peter Sachon, cello (6)