Blue Man Group - The Complex Album Reviewed 22.04.03

Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group - The Complex (released 22.04.03) This avant-garde collective began fifteen years ago as a trio of blue-faced New York street performers, which has now burgeoned into a five hundred strong multimillion -dollar franchise. They have achieved renown across the USA for their experimental theatrical productions, which combine percussive music, art, science, and vaudeville.
After performing for free in open-mic comedy slots the colourful threesome (Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton, Chris Wink) were offered financing to enable them to graduate to an off-Broadway production. After an incredible 1,285 successive shows without respite as a three-piece, the group expanded to allow the Blue Man experience to also set up home in Boston, Chicago, and most recently Las Vegas.

Their goal of reclaiming performance art for the masses by adding a childlike stupidity to proceedings has not entirely removed the pretensions associated with the genre. This is only to be expected when the group claim to be inspired by Bauhaus, Abstract Expressionism, Pink Floyd and Buster Keaton.

'The Complex' is Blue Man Group's second album, following the Grammy nominated and gold selling 'Audio'. Guest vocalists (the most famous being Dave Matthews) have been invited to add their contributions to Blue Man's enormous custom-made PVC percussive instrumentation.

It is an eclectic album, which combines chill-out mood pieces with salvos of punk guitar, linked together by the industrial strength percussion. Highlights are the grunge verse/chorus/verse anthemics of 'The Current' and the mellow Lambchop darkness of 'Persona'.

The way Blue Man Group manage to create traditional sounds from the most bizarre instruments is undoubtedly impressive. However, on an album the way in which sounds are achieved is of less consequence than the result. Unfortunately, 'The Complex' seems lost without the visuals of the live show . Gavin Eves

[![](http://images.contactmusic.com/img/old/backsqup.gif)](JAVASCRIPT:history.go(-1))