New musical directions from composer and keyboardist Amanda Chaudhary. Known for her many collaborations over the years, including Nubdug Ensemble, Vacuum Tree Head, Surplus 1980, Pitta of the Mind, and Reconnaissance Fly, this album showcases the electro-jazz-funk sound of Amanda's personality.

Featuring the thundering rhythm section from Ornette Coleman's Prime Time Band, Jamaaladeen Tacuma on bass, and G Calvin Weston on drums. Amanda is also joined by Bay Area new-music luminaries such as Steve Adams (ROVA Saxophone Quartet), Myles Boisen (Tom Waits, John Zorn), Amy X Neuburg (new-music vocalist extraordinaire), Sheldon Brown (Clubfoot Orchestra, Bob Weir). And the late great chanteuse Serena Toxicat.

The line runs from the cinematic down to the deeply funky across to the sublimely weird, Cross the turnstile and hop aboard!


" For this disc, the leader is Amanda Chaudhary, a mighty fine keyboardist, composer & producer. The known players include Rova saxist Steve Adams, guitarist Myles Boisen (from Splatter Trio), experimental vocalist Amy X. Neuburg and longtime Philly rhythm team Jamaaladeen Tacuma & G Calvin Weston (who’ve worked together with Prime Time, Marc Ribot & Blood Ulmer). The opening piece, “Invocation”, features a mesmerizing haze of synths, warm seductive voice of Serena Toxicat and a swirling rhythm team. “White Wine” features the charming voice of Amy X Neuburg, sly electric piano and more inside playing than one might expect from Rova man Steve Adams on sax. One of the things I like most about Ms. Chaudhary is that she favors those seventies sounding keyboards, both electric piano and ancient synths, knowing how to use them without any of the dumb fusion cliches. “Cables and Carafes” sounds like early prog without being too chops oriented, more fun than too difficult to enjoy. “North Berkeley BART” sounds like the theme to a seventies sitcom that we all used to dig (like ‘All in the Family’ or ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’). Slightly cheesy yet somehow quite charming. Ms. Chaudhary plays a totally groovy synth solo here, as well as some fine simmering, somewhat funky electric piano. I really dig the way Ms. Chaudhary writes for both reeds on “Under the Ceiling Fan”, quirky yet hypnotic harmonies for the sax & bass clarinet plus more nifty electric piano comping underneath. “Donershtik” actually has a somewhat disco/funk-oriented groove (aerobics anyone?!?) at the center, a slamming rhythm team, wah-wah bass (or synth?) and a sense of fun that exudes. If someone like say Bill Laswell remixed this for a 12” single, this could be a hit. No sh*t! Here’s my advice to Amanda Chaudhary, you should get a gig writing theme music for sitcoms that have that nifty seventies sound. Otherwise, just keep putting out fun music like this to lighten all of our lives."
- Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery (New York)

"Für Meow Meow Band (CatSynth Records, ACHS 6174) ministriert sie als Katzennärrin Serena Toxicat, der schillernden Priesterin des Oakland Temple of Bast, bei 'Invocation (French Miaou Bast)', um schnur­rend und auf Französisch die katzengestaltige Göttin der Liebe, des Tanzes und der Musik als Majestueuse et gracieuse Divinité féline anzurufen. Danach steht ihr neben ebenfalls Calvin Weston, Steve Adams und Myles Boisen noch Jamaaladeen Tacuma zur Seite, wäh­rend Jason Berry die Werbetexte beisteuert, die Amy X Neuburg säuselt, beim mit Keys & Synthi launig gejazzten, zu grandiosem Basswerk wendig und graziös gesaxten 'White Wine' und bei 'North Berkeley BART' als funky und synthizwitschrigem Lob für die radfah­rer- & fußgängerfreundliche Bay Area Rapid Transit Subway-Station. Dazwischen bezau­bert 'Cables and Carafes' zu knackigem Beat und Synthbassloop mitsummgroovy mit Keysschmus. 'Under the Ceiling Fan' bekommt seinen Extratouch durch das Hell-Dunkel-Wechselspiel von Adams' Alto mit Sheldon Browns virtuoser, beim Club Foot Orchestra und bei Omar Sosa erprobter Bassklarinette. Und 'Donershtik' hastet zu Bassspiel der Extraklasse, Wahwahguitar, Phantombrass, Synthischnurren und Cymbalrausch mit Hay- & Strawfoot und 70er Flair hin zu etwas, das man auf keinen Fall versäumen möchte."
- Rigobert Dittman. Bad Alchemy magazine

"The RnB-inspired North Berkeley BART is purring with delightful electronic advertisements from Chaudhary, whilst in the laid back, jazzy Miles Davis flow of Under The Ceiling Fan she demonstrates equally rewarding wanderings on keys. The ravishing, kittenish disco beat of Donershtik is another fine illustration jumping on all fours with driving bass and funky Chic moments."
- DPRP (Duch Prog Rock Page)

"Good-natured, jazzy electronic pop from Bay Area mover and shaker Chaudhary and a talented cast of players. The first track is a mysterious invocation of some kind that sounds very different from the rest of the tracks, which tend to be bright and uptempo. Chaudhary’s keyboards and synths are the backbone of these tunes, some of which also feature nice saxophone work by Steve Adams of ROVA. The rhythm section (Jamaaladeen Tacuma on bass guitar and G. Calvin Weston on drums) shines throughout. "
- Max Level, KFJC 89.7 FM