CD Review: Shibboleth’s Experiment in Error

by Catherine Cuellar

If soundtracks for Spaghetti Westerns and '60s sex comedies were free from cinematic distractions, or the Stax recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee hadn't been torn down and replaced by a museum, their resulting music might compare to Experiment in Error, the second full-length recording from Dallas' Shibboleth. This instrumental trio features three of Dallas' hardest-working and most critically-acclaimed musicians: Rich Martin on keys, James Driscoll on bass, and Don Cento on guitar. Their new release features a full band sound augmented by drums, percussion, horns, and — on "The 1912 Horsey Rebellion" — vocals! Still no lyrics though — the aforementioned track (which is #1 on the disc) instead offers super-catchy "ooo"s.

Helmed by Oak Cliff studio darling Stuart Sikes (who has helped everyone from Loretta Lynn to Cat Power sound her best), at times these buoyant, brilliant tracks might make you swear Rich sampled a Giggle Stick, or Don replaced his electric guitar's GHS Boomers with Silly String. "Bill Cosby" is groovier than the Junkyard Gang and stickier (in your head) than a pudding pop, while "The Boss Bass Flute Of Ian Whithurst-McKenneth" is befitting a prog-rock band, but actually wind instrument-free. "The Bavarian" and "These are My Cousins Gastro and Cydebar" seem ready-made for go-go dancing, which the ladies of The Lollipop Shoppe will provide Saturday at the CD's Sons of Hermann release party. But that gig's special sauce will be vocals provided none other than real-deal soul man Bobby Patterson, with whom Shibboleth has performed and recorded demos in hopes of another label deal.