Reviews for Hotel Azteca

Salon Kingsadore
Hotel Azteca
****

Though they cite jazz as a point of reference, on their second full length CD this Auckland instrumental combo stays pumped up from start to finish. The roomy production, fuzzed- out guitar and big drumming place this firmly in the tradition of surf rock.

I can’t think of too many other local groups remotely like this, with maybe the exception of Greg Malcolm’s Surfing USSR project. But the Salon are a more conventional, purist undertaking. Economy and Space is a fitting track title – there’s a lot the current generation of well- schooled local jazz noodlers could learn from this group.

Tracks such as Coloured Silence, The Bulb and the title track are less concerned with instrumental prowess than with clear, clean delivery and solid moods. Guitarist Gianmarco Liguori and Keyboardist Billy Squire create some tasty colours together and there’s some nice use of extra percussion.

In maybe a further nod to authenticity, there’s even a short drum solo before Danger Deep. There are disappointments, too, where maybe the recording studio has not been so kind. Jack Palance has a uneventful passage of sound sculpture, but mostly this is a perfectly distracting genre piece. Makes you wonder where they might go with it next.

John Kennedy – Dominion Post

SALON KINGSADORE - Hotel Azteca

Salon Kingsadore are a Kiwi band named after a hairdressers in Invercargill. But this a world way from your usual jingle jangle southern Kiwi indie band. With no vocals, Salon Kingsadore merge retro shades of Bacharach with loungey licks of Shadows guitar and a snap tight rhythm section.

Hotel Azteca, their second album, has a live smokey feel, as if played in the depths of the night.

Swirling flamengo tinged title track Hotel Azteca sets the tone from the start. Economy and Space follows, a series of big band bams, flavoured by attacking arrows of guitar.

The album's highlight, The Bulb sits mid album at track number five. It's armed with keening keyboards, crisp jazzy drumming, wah-wah guitar, stretched out to a luxurious and unhurried six minutes plus. There's even a drum solo to kick start Danger Deep.

Haul this one out at dinner and you'll soon have guests tapping their fingers and asking what it is.

Paul Easton
The Marlborough Express

From Matthew Crawley 

The sophomore record from Auckland's somewhat overlooked instrumental imaginary soundtrack combo! Hotel Azteca incorporates the Morricone-esque sounds from the previous record, while replacing one guitar with driving organs - and introducing new percussionist extremista!

This sounds like the soundtrack to a dinner party in the 1960's, where the slightly conservative guests accidentally take acid and wind up having a meaningfully awesome dance-trip in a desert and... Anyway I'm totally "digging" it and so will you be, soon enough.
Matthew Crawley

From Real Groove’s Noisyland:

Kicking off this months Noisyland is the impressive Auckland Instrumental quartet Salon Kingsadore with their second major release; Hotel Azteca is a similarly exotic album, but with more of a live feel, than 2004’s self titled album.

The songs breathe with callous charm and slippery surety, yet there’s been no seismic shift in focus – just a tightening of the screws here and there and a desire to jam away until a strong (but certainly not overwhelming) set of songs presented themselves.

A dramatic funk was captured on Economy and Space and The Bulb sees SK in an epic jam that oozes emotion and a calibre of urban reflection they’ve not previously mined. All this despite a couple of alterations to the make up of Salon Kingsadore; now only one guitarist and a drumming change. To the latter, the drumming from Chris Dawson is fairly top- notch and he gets a chance to shine on Danger Deep, which has a deft solo as an intro.

All and all a nice release that’s sure to get your feet tapping, if not your rear off the couch.

Adrian Osman – Real Groove

Its time to get away.- Salon Kingsadore-"Hotel Azteca"

It may not be possible to have a holiday at this frenzied point of the year; however that does not mean you do not need one. You could spend hours of your routine visioning yourself on a distant destination.
But, what if you could experience the feeling of a holiday without leaving your home? Salon Kingsadore’s latest album is your ticket to a holiday in a sun-drenched paradise.

‘Hotel Azteca,’ is typical of Salon Kingsadore’s musical journey through an instrumentally curious style of composition. This time, they have reached for the sunscreen and heated up their style with their splash into smoldering sands. As well crafted as this album is, instrumental albums are always a challenge to grasp the audience’s attention. ‘Hotel Azteca’ is affirmative, blithe and imaginative. It certainly has the ability to transport a listener to somewhere remote which is an appeal in great need by many during this season.

The nine track album is concise with it lasting just over 30 minutes.

The opening, and title, track is appropriately forthright with the ‘Hotel Azteca’ theme. It establishes the mood of the serenity of a late summer afternoon and is a radiant beginning. From there, the following couple of tracks are pleasant enough, but lack that certain something that pulls the audience right in. The songs are not terrible; they can just lose the full attention of a listener because they fall slightly similar. This is the difficulty of instrumental albums, as they are near the point of becoming just background music.

However Salon Kingsadore should not be written of as uninspired. Each track is great, some tracks just exceed others. They possess soul throughout their music which timidly flaunts the talent of the individual musicians. In the middle it may unravel slightly, but when track six, ‘Acapulco Gold’ swings by it lifts the listener back up to the focus. ‘Danger deep’ commences with a drum solo, which feels out of place, but is impressive, and revives the ambition of the album. By the distinguished final track ‘Jack Palance’, the album is reminded of the dazzling vibe it began with, and suddenly you want the journey to last for just a little bit longer.

Salon Kingsadore are definitely a promising act, one that would have an exciting live atmosphere. Yet, this album does not justify this atmosphere, and can not live up to the high standard of their overall sound. Nevertheless, the album is a delight. It’s bubbly and positive, and is something diverse to brighten up any CD collection. Truthfully, the album is a soundtrack to a tranquil vacation, and it keeps in tune with its upbeat self throughout the duration of it. For everyone out there, it is time you checked yourself into an experience at ‘Hotel Azteca.’

-Janise

Reviews for the First SK Album

This is the debut by the Auckland quintet which originally formed for film soundtrack work, then carried on to gigs, an EP and now this nine-track collection of ... well, in their words "wiggy psych wash, jazz, classic guitar pop, blues and salsa. No words needed."

Even without a mouth they're not shy of decent tunes - it might be instrumental but there's little post-rock austerity in this set. The tracks pivot neatly around the twin-guitar frontline of John Guy Howell and Gianmarco Liguori, one or both of which sound they are keen students of the Johnny Marr art of echo-heavy jangle.

It gets briefly loungey on the likes of Romances and briefly twangy on the likes of Esbtudiante De Amor, but mostly it's sprightly mid-tempo indie-rock of a vocal-free but jazzy imagination and deft lightness of touch. Quite Kingsadorable.
Russell Baillie - NZ Herald 17/04/04

From Metro...
Remember those groovy party bands in sixties movies, firing up mini- skirted ravers? Well, imagine if - following a budget blow-out - that wee garage band had to take over the compositional duties for the whole movie. Auckland five- piece Salon Kingsadore could be that band on this nine- track introduction. Like an imaginary instrumental surf group hired by David Lynch for some surreal homage to an endless wrap- up party, Salon Kingsadore might reference groups like Stereolab and even Tortoise, but they come out sounding just like themselves.
Gary Steel - Metro 25/04/04

Salon Kingsadore - Salon Kingsadore
*****
This is something different.
Salon Kingsadore are an Auckland-based instrumental quintet with a sound that clearly harks back to an earlier era but manages to be timeless. The working title could well be "nine modern interpretations of surf instrumentals by a bunch of brainy musos". Not afraid to twitch up the intensity and add some inventive melodic explorations, Salon Kingsadore have come up with a very appealing and arresting package that defies classification.
D.O.B - RipItUp April 2004

From New Zealand Musician
The self titled debut from this accomplished auckland quintet is an all instrumental affair. showcasing the band's stylish, free moving sound, Salon Kingsadore are out of step with other vocal free styles and outfits, and that is welcomed. somewhat difficult to categorise, SK sounds like the sixties meeting the new millennium in a latin influenced lounge bar. the patrons are sophisticated surfy shadows types partaking in cocktails and wine and cute little nibbles. ennio morricone is nodding away in a dark corner, perhaps playing a twangy guitar. it's an interesting world, and that is the one that Salon Kingsadore create on this smooth nine tracker. led by talkative guitars and a solid beat, it comes as no surprise to learn SK have worked on film soundtracks- they would be perfect for that. Recorded live to two inch tape and available through sarang bang records.
Shaun Chait

“I was knocked out by the inventiveness, maturity and musicianship in general… It was clear to me that this was one of 2004’s standout local releases and I inevitably featured it in my ‘best of the year’ programme just before Christmas.”
Nick Bollinger – National Radio

“Even without a mouth they're not shy of decent tunes - it might be instrumental but there's little post-rock austerity in this set… sprightly mid-tempo indie-rock of a vocal-free but jazzy imagination and deft lightness of touch. Quite Kingsadorable.”
Russell Baillie - NZ Herald

“Like an imaginary instrumental surf group hired by David Lynch for some surreal homage to an endless wrap- up party, Salon Kingsadore might reference groups like Stereolab and even Tortoise, but they come out sounding just like themselves.”
Gary Steel - Metro

“Timeless… inventive melodic explorations… defies classification.” ****
D.O.B – Rip It Up

“Touches of Latin beats, jazz groove and shimmering guitars… very filmic music – perfect for themes to any number of cool movies you could name.”
Baz Lawrence – Horsey Magazine

“One of the more interesting indie bands in New Zealand at the moment… SK refreshingly ventures into the largely untapped territory of utterly cinematic, instrumental soundscapes reminiscent of Ennio Morricone… a breath of fresh air.” ****Kiran Dass – Sunday Star Times

“Salon Kingsadore’s darkest moments can be utterly beautiful.”|
Adrian Osman – Real Groove

“A classic set of songs… engaging from beginning to end.”
JSA – Staple Magazine

“Out of step with other vocal free styles and outfits, and that is welcomed.”
Shaun Chait – New Zealand Musician

“Think pulsing Stereolab meeting twanging Shadows at the milk bar”
Dominic Blaazer – New Zealand Musician

“Strange NZ band that combines surf with new age, ambient and jazz. Really hard to file… but sounds really awesome. Strange, kinda romantic- very recommended to anybody who wants to hear something strange and cool.”
No Brains Zine – (The Netherlands)

Some recent articles in the print press...

NZ Musician Article

Real Groove Review