Los Angeles based five piece Corima are a stunning amalgamation of musicians, bridging the past foundations of Magma’s sub genre of prog rock Zeuhl and the modern musings of experimental fusion music. Zeuhl is an interesting combination of European classical forms and the avant-garde shapings of the late 60’s and 70’s era in all its varieties. To hear its re-introduction into the 21st century with a young cast of musicians is a fitting evolution and update to the original idea of the genre. With Corima, I feel the sound is launched far into the future and grafted with shades of many worlds and still lives on its own regardless of the past foundations that are present. A parallel universe of sounds that merge in and out of life forms by the measure. Every song is filled with an abundance of musical composition and directions to making music. To nail the intervals, spacing and free form embellishments that Corima achieves is a task all its own.To make it sound as tasteful and soothing as their full length Quetzalcoatl is really puts me back in my seat.

Corima’s debut album Quetzalcoatl is am overwhelming and mind blowing album to process on first contact, containing 17 tracks of shape shifting progressive oddities that is truly something new for what has been releasing in 2013. The pallet is extensive with the group, containing Ryan Kamiyamazaki on bass, Patrick Takashi Shiroishi on reeds, Andrea Calderón playing violin, Francisco Casanova added with piano and percussionist and drummer Sergio Sánchez. The entire group also contributes vocals to the project, realizing a much more ancestral base to the recording and allowing the nostalgia of the past to sit in parallel with the present. Every vocal passage is capped off by extensive twists and turns, running through dynamics that are unachievable in formal instrumental worlds. Quetzalcoatl was released in September of 2012 with the distribution help of Soleil Zeuhl and has been making a lot of noise in the underground music community.

Due to the amount of content comprised on this album I have chosen to highlight a few of my favorite pieces that I have gone back to on numerous occasion. The sixth song on the album, “Krishkalidortz”, is one that really grabs me and puts me in a hypnotic mind state. The main sections are elongated and reminiscent of Soft Machine, with prolonged sax solos and a beautiful tapestry of rhythm. It has a spiritual sound reminiscent of John Coltrane’s voice, especially as the background vocals softly compliment the main melody line. The first section breaks out into a progressive rock dance burner only to fall back into where it came from. “Khozmikh Kavhiledrios” is another song on the album that has really stuck with me on multiple listens. The second half is comprised of a phenomenal synth solo work out over a pulsing fusion rhythm. It has very long and pronounced Chick Corea sounding keyboard statements riding to the rhythms and allowing the synth to jet off into the upper stratosphere. The sax is drenched in effects as it meets the ending phrases of the synth and becomes cleaner with the re-introduction of violin. Dynamics are abound in every moment and there is always something new to grab on every listen of this track.

The albums peak comes in the 17 minute outing “Tezcatlipoca”. A cyclone of music types is presented with acrobatic like vocal tandem and synth lines. Drums are in full energetic form while bass is locking all of this creative madness in place. The violin takes a lot of sonic identity during the opening sequences, chasing the fast tempo and vocal lines with some mesmerizing soloing that comes in a little after 2 minutes in. The song is non stop layering and mind blowing technical ability through out. The rhythms continue to enlarge in collection and the type of sonic variety is out of this world. It has a Miles Davis “On The Corner” vibe for a large section of the track, grinding away at a deep voodoo funk groove. One of the most stimulating pieces of work I have heard in years.

Quetzalcoatl is one of the greatest things I have heard so far in 2013 and really contains one of the most dense body of mind blowing songs. From front to back, the album has a voyage feeling that is easy to get lost inside of. It’s the type of album that really makes me want to catch them live. Quetzalcoatl is truly something all its own and worth every second of your time.

-Erik Otis

Corima - Tezcatlipoca

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crVb6WPPrcc