BURNING STONE

This is the most heavily produced outing from the Masuda edition of Ruins, and this is what makes it possibly the most accessible and an excellent place to start for newcomers to this phenomenal band. The duo makes extensive use of effects (as well as some overdubbing, mostly for solos and extra vocal tracks), which give their sound a truly orchestral (as in some kind of international or perhaps interplanetary ensemble) feel. The percussion sounds range from straight ahead snare to all kinds of toms to marimba sounds to various sythdrum sounds. Masuda's bass tone is dead-on on this album, sometimes viciously heavy and distorted and other times dancing delicately through melodic motifs, with good dose of tripped out wah wah soloing here and there. Burning Stone's production values are a hint of later Ruins albums like Vrresto and Pallaschtom. Play the song "Praha in Spring" to convince anyone you know of this band's genius.