If Air, Rubber and Soul isnt the most original album youve heard all year, Ill give you a copy for free. This is the solo album of Addi Somekh, or Balloon Bass, who plays an instrument of the same name. The idea was devised by Sean Rooney and modified by Somekh into an instrument created by one round inflated balloon and two skinny un-inflated ones. This creates a cheap, three-and-one-half octave instrument that is showcased on Air, Rubber and Soul.
Named after the three things you need to make a balloon bass, Addis album started with two hours of studio time improvising with drummer Danny Frankel. Add producer Gabriel Frontrow Rowland, keyboardist Money Mark, electric sitar player Nels Cline, guitarist Henry Bermudez, horn player (and maker!) Ralph Carney, Bunny Colvin on balloon horn, upright bass player Greg Cohen, theremin player Noah Thomas, dub mixer The Scientist, and vocalists The Jack, Princess Fortair, Tony Escamilla, Famina, and Bad Vic Benvavides and mix it all up. The product is an eclectic mix of songs and genres from the funk/hip-hop Stay Unpoppable to the jazzy The Shield of Love and acoustic rock Reflections of Eta to the experimental and art rock Forgotten Hero Blues and For Arlo, Part 3.
In the song, Stay Unpoppable, Princess Fortair sings, Dont rest content in your God-given talent. You can fly oh so high. If you just make it grow, it will be unpoppable. It seems as though these are the words Addi Somekh lived by in the making of Air, Rubber and Soul. The album breaks boundaries and conventions of music, but creates aesthetically pleasing noise of all different varieties. If you want to learn more about the band or see the balloon bass in action, you can check out Balloon Bass website and if you want to snag a copy of the album, clink this link.
