Most of Edward Ka-Spel's mid-'80s China Doll albums have beenunavailable for many years. The songs themselves have appeared onvarious compilations, but sometimes in a modified form, rarely with theoriginal track listings, and never with the original artwork. Anal-retentive fans have been drumming their fingers patiently,waiting, waiting...Beta-Lactam Ring
With Laugh China Doll, Beta-lactam Ring Records has begun thewelcome process of re-releasing these works in their originalform. As an added bonus—or annoyance, depending on your pointof view—the coupons included with the albums can be redeemed for adisk of previously unreleased music (be careful when you pull the CDout of the cool "mini vinyl" gatefold sleeve; the coupon is small andeasily lost).
Due to the liquification of the original master tapes, Laugh China Doll (and the included Dance China Dollmaxi-single) could not be properly remastered. But thanks tometiculous clean-vinyl restoration the sound quality is incredible andthe album has never sounded as dynamic (though there are occasionalpops, cracks and moments of slight distortion). As for the songsthemselves, the majority of them are classics. Some do sufferfrom dated, repetitive, and frankly annoying drum programming ("Lisa'sFuneral," "Eye Contact") or fail to come together in a coherent way("Find the Lady"), but the bulk of the album covers Ka-Spel's strongpoints: the haunting melodies of "Requiem" and "Lady Sunshine," theepic war story "Atomic Roses," and "Lilith's Daughter," a voodoo taleof easy sex told through a traumatized child's eyes. Thehighpoint for me is "Even Now," a duet with the mysterious Lily AK, andit remains a perfect example of Ka-Spel at his most effective: just asimple keyboard line and some heartbreaking lyrics. Two livetracks from 1988 are also included, just so you'll know what it soundslike when a guy with a hammer bashes the heck out of a concrete block.
Laugh China Doll is a unique slice of early-'80s budgetelectronics. The keyboards may be creaky and the effects a littlecheesy, but it starts off the China Doll series with a bang, and itmeets my single criteria for aural goodness: "I like how it sounds."
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