THE SCIENCE GROUP

This is some complex and difficult music people! Even Mike Johnson mentioned it was one of the more difficult albums he's played on. Bob Drake engineered, mixed and mastered this recording. The music is divided into four sections each with a sub-title. It's all instrumental unlike the debut which had a female vocalist and someone playing bass clarinet, so a six piece. I'm leaning to the debut as my favourite but both are solid 4 star records in my avant world. I love that they are called THE SCIENCE GROUP with Stevan going into his lab and creating all of this stuff then bringing in some like-minded musicians to help him deliver it.

I have a top five and of the three tracks on the opening section called "Timelines" I like "Timeline 5" the best. I'm not big on Tickmayer playing his piano like a drum set like on the opening track but overall this is a top five song. I like the organ and guitar on this one and Bob digs deep with that rickenbaker 4001 bass of his. The next section is called "New Indents" and "Dance Of The Arguments" makes my top five out of that. I like the tempo changes the most on this one.

I have no top five songs on the next section but that last one called "Old And New Paths" I have three so it does end very well in my opinion. That three track run that includes "Niska Banja", "Tractate" and "The Garden Of Forking Paths". Just over ten minutes of music in total and I did think of THINKING PLAGUE on the last of those three tunes. The closer is the longest at 8 1/2 minutes and just outside of my top five but a good one where Cutler impresses.

Not one I will return to often but man what an album! Just sit back and listen to some of the most difficult music around. I know I would value this more if it had no piano or at least Fender Rhodes.

"Mnemonic" has lots of intricate and odd sounds coming and going right from the start including drums, bass clarinet and piano. Vocals after 2 minutes. Such an impressive opener. "Aleph Zero" again has my head swimming with all the sounds I'm hearing. The vocals join in quickly but man what an incredible collage of sounds. The tempo picks up after 1 1/2 minutes. Well these first two tracks have certainly warmed me up. "Engineering" is different as we get distant and experimental sounds. The guitar joins in as it is slowly picked and there's plenty of atmosphere here as well. Sounds drone as the guitar continues and the bass clarinet helps out. Relaxed vocals arrive before 3 minutes. "Lost In Translation" has a very hyper start with vocals, piano, drums and more. A frantic beginning. It does settle back before a minute.

"Chimera" is my favourite song on here. It's spacey and haunting to start and I like the depth of sound as the bass clarinet helps out. Distant vocals after 2 minutes and there's someone speaking too. It then kicks in before 3 minutes with drums and more powerful vocals. Amazing sound! That guitar is incredible and angular after 4 minutes. It settles back late as spoken words can be heard. "Parity" opens with what sounds like deranged harpsichord as reserved vocals and more join in. The tempo picks up quite a bit after a minute when the vocals stop. It settles back again before 2 minutes as the vocals return. Excellent track. "Love" has someone yelling while the angry mob looks for someone to beat on. Yeah this is love(haha). Avant sounds join in before we get a calm. The guitar and bass clarinet are joined by the vocals as it stays laid back but not for long. All kinds of different sounds come and go 2 1/2 minutes in then back to that laid back sound.

"Open Or Closed?" is another favourite. We get a catchy beat as keys and more join in. Vocals after a minute then the bass clarinet honks and we get percussion too. Back to the earlier sound at 3 minutes. "Napoleon" hits the ground running with all kinds of sounds. "...In..." has avant spoken words and sound for 25 seconds then "...Schroedinger's Box" follows that up with a catchy sound with vocals. Very melodic and fun although they throw in some weird sounds of course. "Event Horizon" has lots of sounds coming and going including bass clarinet and drums. Vocals too as we get insanity late. "Lab Notes" features intricate sounds before this rhythm kicks in around 30 seconds. Vocals and spoken words before 1 1/2 minutes. Experimental stuff follows.

"Scale Invarians" opens with vocals and a powerful sound. The sound of an elephant comes and goes before 1 1/2 minutes, powerful indeed. A mellow section follows of picked guitar, vocals and atmosphere. Nice. It turns avant before 2 1/2 minutes right to the end. "There Must Be Something" is all over the place, outstanding! Nice bass before 3 minutes. This song needs to be heard to be believed. Love the electronics too. Children can be heard playing after 4 1/2 minutes then rain and thunder roll in after 5 minutes and this continues to the end. Just wow! "Untitled" ends it all and it opens with what sounds like vibes, percussion and experimental sounds. it kicks in hard after a minute, full throttle as the vocals join in.

As I mentioned earlier, if your into 5UU'S, THINKING PLAGUE, ART BEARS and the like, please track this beast down. And when you do may God have mercy on your soul. Yeah I got nothing.

Mnemonic (1. / 2:36) starts with noises reminding me of Cleaning Women, soon bass clarinet and female vocals coming. The next song Aleph Zero (2. / 2:24) continues from there and starts to resemble more PRESENT and THINKING PLAGUE. The music is still merely splintering, with lively occasionalities. Engineering (3. / 6:04) is more atmospheric, mellow and spooky ambientism with vocals - nothing special for me but actually not too long track.

Lost In Translation (4. / 1:09) is a very good catchy avant-(pop)prog song, but very short. It is irritating, but also the shortness has some mysticism in it. Chimera (5. / 6:15) starts interestingly - compared to Engineering, this is much spookier and otherwise better (Resembling also Mew's And the Glass Handed Kites). And once again we can witness avant-prog's power to make very good pop (I sometimes use name indie avant-garde) . Amy Denio's singing is just lovely and the melodies & harmonies strange. While listening to Parity (6. / 3:06), one cannot forget band named 5UU's. Bob Drake sings in both bands. Try to stay on track because this is bombastic! The song has also different moods and things pushed together and it works! Love (7. / 4:52) sounds pervert and lovely love! There's weird interrupting things but still the song is very mellow. Open Or Closed (8. / 4:15) isn't actually comforting me much, but it is sypposed to be so weird as it is, and maybe unconfortable, a little bit poppy, again. Napoleon (9. / 1:54) is a short rocker. .......In..... (10. / 0:25) is the shortest - rhythmical speaking and drums, nice! ............Schroedinger's Box (11. / 1:08) is a very lovely - once again poppy - song, like Event Horizon (12. / 1:49) and it's hard to describe. Maybe you will understand and approve it. Lab Notes (13. / 2:53) is slow and clumsy. I think the scientists are tired and crazy, but still this isn't so nice song. Scale Invarians (14. / 3:36) is very mystic, monumental, with nice ideas and some adorable elephant (or some animal) voices. Masterful! There Must Be Something (15. / 7:19) sympathetic mourning song. Much noises here, also (I don't usually like them but they suit for this album). The last untitiled song (16. / 3:03) is quite psychedelic rocker. The sound is a bit computer-like, but it doesn't bother me.

For fans of 5UU's, THINKING PLAGUE etc this is a must-have. These songs just are great!: Lost In Translation, Chimera, Parity, Scale Invarians and There Must Be Something. The rating could well be only 4 stars, because of the structure of the album, or some even awkwardnesses, but there's some reasons that makes me love this.