CATERPILLARMEN

Rebirth of Samla Mammas Manna in this world?

As honestly I say, I cannot realize they were born as a simple and typical blues rock band. Deep and heavy riffs and delightful grooves can slightly remind me kinda blues flavour, but their core of sound is exactly elaborate RIO structure in their second eponymous album. They say they've been much influenced by King Crimson, and everybody can feel something versatile like them in Discipline period - especially the second track "Defeat", with heavy, a bit stoner guitar riffs based on deep bass and drums, sounds just like Larks Tongue In Aspic series.

However, let me say, their progression and soundscape under their mind depth are not only a monkey story but also another Samla Mammas Manna - I'm sure you can understand with listening to their fourth track "Parteyh!" (superb palpitation in the beginning is beyond expression!) or the middle part of the previous one "Revenge" - with complex tempos and flexible mixture of rigidity and softness, sometimes bizarreries, much compatible with Samla, a pleasant sound garden.

"Dreaming" is another bluesy, but amazing roller coaster - their slight sincere and tragic atmosphere (that cannot always be seen) is very impressive, and rolling, driving the sound can create terrific tension. On the contrary, like a toy-box song, "Now The Man" is Crimson-like eclectic kink blended with pure avantgarde structure upon the former half ? there are various sound elements in it definitely.

"Now The Man Super Mega Time" (what does it mean?) may be the closest to RIO, as the first shot "Party" can be, I suggest. Persistent, cynical music phrases spin round with fuzzy, tricky guitar jabs and fanatic, kaleidoscopic rhythm section explosions. Guess it may be okay to mention that their brilliant gems can be stuffed into this song? The last "Re-Re-Remix" might be their funny joke (but it should have definitely RIO essence) methinks.

Their strong intention for progressive rock and subliminal spice for RIO (also the latter is excellent in spite of themselves) exist in such a influential manner.

At the bottom of their website I noticed a combination of 3 tags that said "Iceland monkey prog". I think that is the best way to sum up the music on "Caterpillarmen". I understood this to be an RIO group before listening to this album, which usually makes me wary about any group. But, also, it was free to listen to. So, there.

Caterpillarmen play the type of RIO that isn't incessantly dissonant or noisy, and they're not one of those awesome electro-acoustic avant groups. I'd liken this music to Jack Dupon or Jean Louis, in that it is odd and disjointed, playful and goofy, and heavy and driving. The musicianship is great from what I can tell, and that is further emphasized by the fact that this album was recorded as two live takes.

The bands states that this album is based on a theme of monkeys invading human parties, getting defeating, taking revenge and starting a party of there own. Seems like a strong enough concept, but there are no lyrics so this is purely a soundtrack affair. The music goes great with that theme, though.

I can't seem to find anything that stands out in this music really, because I don't particularly have an ear for RIO/avant prog. The band does occasionally lock into a very jam-band sounding groove, which is something I feel that Caterpillar men could benefit from utilizing more - it would lengthen the compositions and create a space for the members to show off their chops in a more controlled manner.

As I said earlier, this album would best suit fans of Jean Louis of Jack Dupon. Otherwise, this might not be for you.

Great and interesting RIO!

I am always happy when I discover new and talented bands who have something interesting to share, and I am also happy when those bands come from countries that musically talking are not really familiar to me. This time I came across this curious and original band from Iceland named Caterpillarmen, who started playing some years ago and released a first album last year (2010), and a second one this year (2011) which (thanks to them) I could download and of course enjoy.

Their avant-garde tendencies are clear, I assume that they are familiar with some older RIO and even Zeuhl acts, or at least, that is what I believe judging by their sound. This album entitled "Caterpillarmen" features 8 compositions and a total time of 33 minutes, I would have loved a couple of songs more here, but well, it was their decision.

They are a four-member band playing the "basic" instruments: guitars, bass, keys, drums. This is an instrumental band, for sure. So the album kicks off with "Party" which shows a definitely weird and avant-gardish guitar sound, and a strong bass sound that in moments reminds me to the zeuhl ones. "Defeat" starts like the end of a live-performance, and then little by little they are creating a quirky, not easy to digest or understand, but in the end a cool track. As I've read, they have King Crimson as an influential band (who doesn't?) and I believe they do have some hints of them.

"Revenge" is definitely one of the highlights here, with interesting and intelligently structured pauses, changes and explosions, showing the creativity and skills of the musicians. I love those moments of tension when it definitely stops and just a kind of limbo sound remains. "Parteyh!" is like the continuation of the previous track, the weird sound prevails but now some kind of enthusiastic or hyperactive music is created. I imagine someone getting addicted by this, and running like a crazy man from one place to another, haha.

"Now the Man" and "Dreaming" are both the shortest tracks off this album, reaching less than three minutes. The first one is like a game, a piece divided in thousand pieces that are being drop off by the different instruments, until all together sound and create a wonderful unstructured chaos. At half the song it changes and now it does have a rhythm and a style, a curious one that may put you in a positive mood. The second one has a softer and relaxing sound, with the surprising addition of some vocals, this track reminds me a bit of Pink Floyd's More era.

"Nos the Man Super Mega Time" is one of their best moments here without a doubt. An original and challenging track that in moments seems to have lost its goal, but that always is recovered. You may think that they are a jam session band, but actually they do have a well composed and accurately performed track. The last track is "Re-Re-Remix" which honestly in my opinion was not the best choice as a closer song, I would have preferred something any of the previous tracks, this is just a weird but not that cool moment to fill the album.

However, this is a worth checking album, and better said, a worth checking band, with interesting things to share. My final grade will be three stars.

Enjoy it!