THE GREEN MINDBOMB

As I described the opener, "Streets," on my Instagram story mini-review (yes, this is genuinely something I regularly do), it's as if ZAPPA, HOLDSWORTH, and latter-day GONG (Pierre MOERLEN'S, to be exact) had a big ol' Prog baby. But that's not all! Although we very clearly have the Fusion elements from all these listed artists in the bones of this music, we also have avant-garde, Varésque moments, like the most sinister "Class." This is also an example of what I can only assume is MINNEMANN doing "the Zappa thing" (see literally anything Frank did in the early-80s till the end of his life with the Synclavier). Dance Me This, anyone? The Green Mindbomb heavily features this vibe throughout.

And to really show the various colors and flavors on this album and touched on by Minnemann & Co. (he and a bunch of fellow Germans with whom I can't help but be most impressed), "Class" is followed by "Success", a bizarre combination of... what I can only describe as Grindcore, Industrial and... I don't know how to explain it... R&B? Is it John ZORN? BUNGLE? Certainly too early to be inspired by ESTRADASPHERE... It's weird as hell, but it works! Throughout the album there are these beautiful female vocals, and on this track this is wonderfully featured. Very soulful. Very well performed. I don't know if what I'm hearing, too, is also some avant-garde, experimental take on Nu Metal. It's very intense. And, to repeat myself in some way, very impressive.

The variety is of course reminiscent of Frank, but also of Minnemann's most excellent contemporary MIKE KENEALLY. A high compliment from me. I think what I need to make clear is that I'm kicking myself for not digging into Marco sooner. I'm a Prog fan from the age of The ARISTOCRATS, a band that wouldn't see the light of day until their formation 13 years later in 2011. If you like them, ZAPPA, KENEALLY, GONG, HOLDSWORTH and specifically THORENDAL'S Sol Niger Within, then waste no time.

Best I can do with a True Rate is 4.25/5.00, so... is that not worth mentioning?