Fizzle Like a Flood – Love b/w Sweeter Dreams (CD, 2001)

ARTIST/LABEL NOTES:

Doug Kabourek, the lone constant behind Fizzle Like A Flood, has been duped once too many. “I can’t even start to count how many times I’ve read some glowing review of a record that paints it as some kind of Heavenly music that almost defies any kind of categorization,” Kabourek says “You know, those reviews that use phrases like ‘gorgeous walls of shimmering synth tones’ or ‘vocal melodies weaving through guitar melodies wrapped in candy-colored echo?’ Some kind of talk like that. And I’m always totally disappointed when I get home only to hear a standard pop song with a keyboard part and two-part vocal harmony. What??? Damn it, I wanted the other record!!!”

And so Doug made just that himself. Still using the inexpensive, home-housed equipment that is quickly being recognized as that special part of Fizzle Like A Flood’s sound, he has layered melody upon melody, harmony upon harmony, and rhythm upon rhythm. to create a sound that is truly Heavenly and madly unique.

“Love,” the first in a future line of singles rather than albums, is Fizzle Like A Flood at its finest. A definite move forward from last year’s “Golden Sand and the Grandstand,” “Love” and its sister song, “Sweeter Dreams,” took nearly five months to complete.

“Since a lot of the melodies are synth, I wanted another element that would add some warmth to the sound.” says Kabourek. “I spent some time and was able to settle on a ‘bed’ of five acoustic guitars mixed in some serious stereo. The other melodies sound great on top of it. I also dropped the idea of lyrics because I wanted more vocal melodies than a story would allow. The extra melodies distracted you from hearing the words and I didn’t like that at all. Plus, there was only one word I really wanted to say anyway.”

Briyan Frederick’s Musician Journal:

I’m uncovering a lot of gems heretofore entombed in boxes of GAJOOB submissions from 2001-2004ish. This one from Doug Kabourek is another find and diving into the rabbit hole of Doug’s musical adventures from then to now leaves me wondering many things.

Mainly, am I crazy? I love this. Why isn’t Fizzle Like a Flood a household name?

That kind of thing.

The best Kabourek music trove seems to be on streaming services and I’ve libraried everything on Apple Music which consists of 5 albums. It looks like Doug is one of those flashes of brilliance creatives, jumping from one thing to another probably different thing.

Let me absorb this and get back to you.

In the meantime, we reviewed two early albums from Doug’s first solo incarnation, Laces, included below for your edification.

The Laces –  (cassette, 1997)

Review by M Redacted, 3/12/1997:

The incredible color tape cover shows a little tyke (a pint sized Doug?) earnestly tying his sneakers, but not quite getting it perfect. Which is the perfect visualization of how this music feels. Doug writes these beautiful little pop ballads, and with acoustic guitar, xylophone, cool live drumming and layered vocals he tries to make a masterpiece, but instead delivers a wonderfully clunky pop sound. Doug’s voice is sweet and likeable, in the Ray Carmen mold. Both the acoustic guitar and drums have that close-up, no effects, recorded at home sound that I love.

Media: cassette.

The Laces – forever for now (CD, 2000)

GAJOOB Review by Bryan Baker

Fans of homemade music are well aware of Doug Kabourek’s work as Laces. Doug plays most everything here with help from Mike Hoff and Rivers Cuomo on a couple songs and borrowed loops here and there. Laces is classic hometaper material with the kind of personal approach that engages from the getgo and never falters. Homespun guitars and very cool songs. Put it on your A-list for sure.

Media: CD.