Though it was recorded in a museum,
Sucre du Sauvage more than lives up to its name, sounding more savage than studious (or sweet, for that matter). It’s not surprising for
Quintron and
Miss Pussycat to find a unique setting for their music, and the New Orleans Museum of Art certainly fit the bill. Just to make things more interesting, they recorded there for four months in a completely public, open space, yet
Quintron's goal was to ignore the public as he made music. However, his surroundings are indelibly a part of this music, particularly on the album’s second half, which features field recordings taken outside of the museum. The Frog Tape played with a similar idea, but
Sucre du Sauvage fashions these recordings into something more overtly musical thanks to percussion and organ, both of which are used especially well on “Bells” and “Jazz Bar.” The album’s first half will feel more familiar to most fans, with songs like the title track, “Ring the Alarm,” and “All Night Right of Way” diving into the organ groove-driven garage rock expected from
Quintron.
Miss Pussycat gets a chance to shine on the whimsical “Banana Beat” and “Spirit Hair,” a spooky track that acts as a bridge between
Sucre du Sauvage's rock and experimental halves. Given the album’s split nature, it’s not quite as cohesive as most
Quintron albums, but it manages to represent the fringes of his sound, as well as the heart of it, very well. ~ Heather Phares