Caveat Emptor by Ancient Chinese Secret (CD, May-1999, Slap A Ham)

Album Features
UPC:	636802005020
Artist:	Ancient Chinese Secret
Format:	CD
Release Year:	1999
Record Label:	Slap A Ham
Genre:	Hardcore/Punk

Track Listing
1. Waiting for Doctor Bombay
2. Nice Day, A
3. Moral of the Story
4. [Untitled]
5. Hyper Liar
6. Obnoxious Fumes
7. Overlook, The
8. Basics, The
9. Outburst
10. Flight or Fight
11. Quiet for the Choirmaster
12. Needle's Eye
13. Candle Burns, The
14. Passage of Time, A

Details
Playing Time:	28 min.
Producer:	Ancient Chinese Secret
Distributor:	Revolver USA
Recording Type:	Studio
Recording Mode:	Stereo
SPAR Code:	n/a

Album Notes
Ancient Chinese Secret: Chris Dodge (vocals, keyboards, bass, ring modulator); Matt Martin (vocals, keyboards, drums); Lydia Dodge (vocals, organ).Recorded from May to July 1998.For a label that normally puts out either blazing power-violence or ultra-torturing sludge-core, Ancient Chinese Secret is a definite stand-out for Slap-a-Ham's entire back catalog. There are a couple reasons for this: for one, the minimal line-up consists of Spazz's Chris Dodge on bass, his wife Lydia on vocals and a drummer completing the line up, that's it. Second of all, there's not once ounce of metal or a trace of heaviness for that matter. Rather, ACS has more of an off-beat, quirky but non-threatening appeal to them. This is in part thanks to the lack of distortion and Lydia's ability to talk loudly into the mic rather than scream at the top of her lungs. Not to say that Caveat Emptor is bad or anything; on top of all this, the occasional tape loop samples -with the last track mixing a slew of cartoon sound effects-and speed metal drumming give this album it's own uniqueness. Playful, but not to the point of being wholesome family entertainment. ~ Mike DaRonco

Ancient Chinese Secret: Chris Dodge (vocals, keyboards, bass, ring modulator); Matt Martin (vocals, keyboards, drums); Lydia Dodge (vocals, organ).Recorded from May to July 1998.Personnel: Matt Martin (vocals, keyboards, drums); Chris Dodge (vocals, keyboards, ring modulator).Audio Mixers: Ancient Chinese Secret; Bill Gould.Recording information: House of Faith (05/1998-07/1998).For a label that normally puts out either blazing power-violence or ultra-torturing sludge-core, Ancient Chinese Secret is a definite stand-out for Slap-a-Ham's entire back catalog. There are a couple reasons for this: for one, the minimal line-up consists of Spazz's Chris Dodge on bass, his wife Lydia on vocals and a drummer completing the line up, that's it. Second of all, there's not once ounce of metal or a trace of heaviness for that matter. Rather, ACS has more of an off-beat, quirky but non-threatening appeal to them. This is in part thanks to the lack of distortion and Lydia's ability to talk loudly into the mic rather than scream at the top of her lungs. Not to say that Caveat Emptor is bad or anything; on top of all this, the occasional tape loop samples -with the last track mixing a slew of cartoon sound effects-and speed metal drumming give this album it's own uniqueness. Playful, but not to the point of being wholesome family entertainment. ~ Mike DaRonco