Hope You Like Our New Direction

by Brian Olewnick Henry Kaiser made several recordings concentrating on cover versions of songs from various cultures, and was becoming well enough known for them that he feared this facet of his persona was beginning to overshadow others. Therefore, he announced that this oddly titled production would be his last venture into interpretations of other folk's music, leaving him free to return to the arenas of improvisation and world music. It's an uneven collection, although the highlights are as good as anything Kaiser ever did. The long "Traditional Medley," featuring the absolutely gorgeous playing of Ngoc Lam on danh tranh (a Vietnamese stringed instrument), wanders evocatively from American blues through Vietnamese folk songs before surprisingly ending with the song "Cold Rain and Snow," a staple of the Grateful Dead repertoire. Another superb number finds the Hawaiian singers Raymond & Elodea Kane (along with Richard Thompson on acoustic guitar) giving a heartfelt and stirring performance of an old Hawaiian gospel song. Fred Marshall's eerie "The Sandman," a rousing take on "California Dreamin'," and the closing, inspired version of Captain Beefheart's "Japan in a Dishpan" are other standout cuts. Interspersed are a bunch of lesser efforts, including a dirge-like rendition of "Rock On" and some testosterone-laden noodling with future Guns N' Roses member Buckethead. The best pieces here make this album well worth owning and, despite understanding Kaiser's reluctance to continue in this "new direction," one still hopes for the occasional dalliance.