Gordon’s Suitcase – Good Girls Like Good Music

Kai Horsthemke

Gordon’s Suitcase is an unusual South African band that specializes in organic ‘ambient groove’/ acid jazz. Essentially a guitar-led instrumental quartet that enlists the odd trumpet or oud (the latter courtesy of Greg Georgiades), plus some clever electronica, their debut album doesn’t feature the bass as such – but the instrument is nonetheless an essential cog in the Gordon’s Suitcase machinery. Open Range Super Hero has a little bass vignette towards the end, and the Doors’ Riders … fits neatly into the band’s chosen genre, with Malcolm Ross replicating the original driving bass. Also check out the pulsating bass that kickstarts the final tune, Missile Crisis. There is not a single weak track among the 13 pieces here, making this a thoroughly enjoyable debut. 

Apart from bassist Ross, Gordon’s Suitcase is Peter Angelopulo on guitar (whom I remember as a fledgling guitarist and contributor to the ‘Helen of Troy’ sessions I did in 1993 for his father Charles, and who has replaced original member Rainier Prins), Illimar Neitz on guitar and drummer Jake Loots: a suitcase that holds (and keeps) the promise of taking you on a delightfully psychedelic aural journey. 

Kai Horsthemke
September 2006