Nomy Lamm & The Need
Transfused Soundtrack
Yoyo Records

Up in Olympia WA, famous for it’s beer, a warning is being sent out. This is a dark, post-apocalyptic vision of survival after the environment is destroyed. The government has disintegrated, and The Corporation runs the land. Maybe the World Bank merger went through? The air is now toxic. Once a day, the factory workers are administered a dose of clean air called The Fix. The worst effect of this hardship seems to be that no one can speak, they have to sing. (Musical theatre, Oh, boy!)

This is not a punk rock opera, as the press is touting. Some of the performers have been playing Riff-Raff and Janet for too long. Nomy Lamm’s thought-provoking lyrics are one of the best parts of the production. Her soulful singing as leader of the Mongrels is another. Molly Robertson is uninteresting as Sid. While Tammy Martin sings like Tori Amos ( kind of), and has a jarring Lori Petty speaking voice. Andras Jones sings as though he believes it, and gives a nice break from the riot grrls. The creepy circus organs that follow The Corporation are reminiscent of the Residents. The standout performance goes to Jerry Beard. His statistical scientist should have a bigger role. The lesbian heroines should appeal to all red-blooded Americans, save prude housewives.

The story here follows a Les Miserable -oppressed persons vs. establishment with opportunists on the side- vein. Often in musicals, the singer steps carefully on every note presented like a stone. This plodding along always comes across as amateurish, even though it occurs in full-scale Broadway productions. Where the music is sparse, the vocals are unsure and reaching for air to walk on. This project is not to be dismissed completely, but it feels like an imitation of an already dry form. Luckily, the finale is pretty stirring trying to capture a Les Miserable/Weeds moment.

 -Ewan Wadharmi

Track Listing:

1. What Kind Of World Is This?: Kitchenette, The / Enter The Mongrels / I Think We Know You / Fugue: Where Do We Go From Here? / Watch & Inhale:
2. Gormlis: The Demonstration / This Is Suspicious
3. Work Song
4. Child Of Destiny
5. The Fix: Talk To Me Cooper / Give Me Breath Or Give Me Death /
6. Training The Recruits
7. Corporate Orders
8. Townsquare Meeting: Agenda, / Sid's Aria / Grin's Patter
9. The Solution
10. The Pogrom
11. The Ultimatum
12. Avi Freak Out / Runt Steps Up
13. It's Doomed
14. Sacrifice, The Commander, The / Tova / Cooper / Corpse XY
15. Oh Boo Hoo Hoo,
16. Tova's Eulogy
17. Bring On The Storm
18. The Powerstation (Transfused Theme): Cooper Ask The Angels: / I Saw The Future / Sid's Announce