After an unabridged listening of Crazy Price, it is still difficult to ascertain exactly how much of each track is live instrumentation and how much is brilliant sample. It hardly matters. This much is known: Messer Chups present us with a highly unique mishmash of film noir sounds.
Seemingly inspired by 1960s horror and spy films alike, Crazy Price is an aggregate assembly of spacey surf riffs, old synth sounds, whirring electronics, and moody organ. Each consolidated track brings with it one or more further unique elements, be it horn, piano, tuba, cello, whistling, or cracks and creaks. Harp samples and brief percussive appendages continue the cavalcade of sound, and weird mumblings and horror samples can be found up and down the album.
Moments of jazz and lounge sprinkle the sixteen-track release, one that is more than moderately clustered with Eastern European influences. The oddest moment, however, comes at the onset of the fourth track, as the presumably sampled guitar piece with which it starts is one that is also used on Ipecac label-mate End’s 2004 release, Sounds of Disaster. And that brings me back to my original question: how much of Crazy Price is lifted from elsewhere and repackaged to form something awesome? It still doesn’t matter. Pick this up if you like what I’ve described.
– Scott Morrow
Messer Chups (Ipecac)