NEW I FEALING

I hopped on the free music bandwagon to hear this excellent and quirky group some months ago. I've probably listened to this album 50 times and I've had mixed feelings about the album. Initially pleasantly impressed, then drifting toward "meh" and then as I really sunk my ears into the album for this review, I'm back to being truly impressed. I suppose my time here on PA has changed my ears, for I did not expect this band to be Avant / RIO. Instead, this is a truly eclectic band that gives nods to classics like Yes and Genesis, and major kudos to Frank Zappa and Gentle Giant. However, the band also utilizes very modern sounds such as electronic textures a la math masters Battles and nu-folk / pop groups like Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend. The closest band to this I've heard is Frogg Cafe, but this is crazier.

If this sounds like a lot of material to bite off in a 3 song, 19 minute EP, it is. Though the musicianship is superb and the execution brilliant, there is a little lack of focus. Rather than having a coherent package to communicate to the listener, this band is simply delighting in the pure pleasure of making complex, quirky music. Since I too consider this one of life's great pleasures, I really like this album. But it's not for everyone and specifically it's not for background listening. It just won't make sense.

1. Don't Don't Don't - The EP and song begins with a sad, almost Beach Boys styled harmony section which then yields to a Sergeant Pepper oompah section. These are a bit odd and hurky-jerky, but work well enough. This is repeated a second time before the song takes off with the band's signature blend of math rock and Gentle Giant composition that to me is modern prog at its best.

2. Flux Dogs - This songs begins with a guitar flourish clearly meant as an homage to Steve Howe. The main vocal line is nicely done, though is a bit limited by the singers' very non-distinctive vocal timbres. There is a fun trippy free form instrumental section in the middle, and finishes with a choral flourish.

3. Nommo Days - An angular odd rhythm song with the annoying nu-folk echo on the vocals. Some allusions to nu-folk master Sufjan Stevens. Once again, once the first instrumental section comes in, we get modern prog at its best. Just wonderful chamber rock styled composition. The song move through a pastoral bridge section and climbs to a GG-esque climax.

There are sections of this album that are just brilliant. And absolutely all of it is good, interesting. To me, this is what modern prog is. (Not another neo- rehash.) A very solid 4 star effort. Looking forward to future releases.

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