INNER EARTH

I have to admit this one caught me completely off guard. After reviewing their most recent album "When You Cut Into The Present" I was not expecting something so avant-guard with Free Jazz leanings. This is not a record to put on as background music(haha) unless you like getting annoyed(ask my daughter). Yes I think Free Jazz might be the most difficult sub-genre for me to appreciate but when you give your full attention to this beast it might still be difficult but man it's so rewarding and impressive. MOSTER! is the brainchild of Kjetil Moster who plays a variety of saxophones and includes MOTORPSYCHO's guitarist Hans Magnus "Snah" Ryan and their drummer Kenneth Kapstad, along with ELEPHANT9's bass player Nikolai Haengsle Eilertsen. There is a definite theme to this instrumental album when you read the song titles and look at the album cover and it's title "Inner Earth".

First we get a four song suite with each track blending into the next called "Descending Into The Crater". The first track is subtitled "Poutanian Debate" and it begins with keyboard sounds, atmosphere and more. This is experimental and we get these liquid sounds before 1 1/2 minutes. The sax starts to make some noise before 3 minutes and I like the tension with rumbling drums around 4 minutes in. It blends into "Central Sunrise" where the sax eventually starts to drone as we also get atmosphere and guitar expressions. It becomes sparse sounding later as it blends into "Magma Movement". This is dark and somewhat ominous with not a lot going on until the guitar lets out a cry that is hair raising and that will come and go then the sax arrives 3 minutes in but in a reserved manner. More guitar after 4 minutes as the sax continues. Love the distortion from the guitar. This blends into "Mount Vesuvio" as we get some bass sax and distorted guitar lines. There's a dark undercurrent here and check out the dissonant sax after 3 1/2 minutes. I'm thinking Miles Davis despite it being a sax and not a trumpet. Insane! Sounds echo late to end it.

"Tearatorn" has such an innovative intro with the sax and guitar making unusual sounds as the percussion supports in a random way. It kicks into gear before 2 1/2 minutes with the sax out-front. Angular guitar after 3 minutes as it seems to build slowly. Dissonant sax 4 minutes in and I'm thinking ELEPHANT9 after 5 minutes with that drumming as the distorted guitar rips it up over top. It's really intense 8 minutes in then it settles back a minute later with tribal-like drumming as the sax lights it up. The bass is throbbing after 11 minutes and check out the cool sound 12 1/2 minutes in. Angular guitar follows. It settles down 14 minutes in to the end. "Underworld Risk" has these intricate drum patterns along with guitar that I'd describe in the same way. A sparse sounding intro as honking sax arrives and the guitar turns nasty as the drums continue. It's building 3 1/2 minutes in and I like the bass here. Man this is intense and check out the sound 4 minutes in as the sax lets loose. An all out assault 6 minutes in. Hide the women and children for the love of God!

A difficult listen for sure but man when giving this my full attention with the headphones on there's a huge "wow factor" in play. For fans of adventerous music only.