BANDWIDTH

It's been more then 20 years in between studio albums for THE MUFFINS. So you could say that this record is more mature sounding, and it is. I found it less experimental than their early stuff. It's smoother and softer I guess you could say as well. I do prefer "Manna / Mirage" and "Chronometers" over this one by quite a bit.

"Walking The Duck" features lots of horns honking (ducks) and I like the raw guitar before 2 minutes. "World Maps" opens with strummed guitar as mournful horns join in. It changes to a more uptempo melody before 1 1/2 minutes. Horns, light drums and bass lead the way after 2 minutes. Some dissonant horns late. The next two tracks are both less then 2 minutes in length. They're both excellent. "Military Road" is better in my opinion. I like the atmosphere they create early. The bass and light drums are relentless as the sax plays over top. Excellent tune. "Dear Mona" is rather light but it gets better as it plays out. "People In The Snow" features outbursts of sound that come and go. Sax starts to dominate a minute in. It changes 2 minutes in as sax take a back seat. Flute before 3 minutes as trombone comes in.

"Essay R" opens with smooth horn melodies. Actually there are lots of horns in this one. Guitar makes some noise 3 1/2 minutes in. Nice. "Out Of The Boot" is surprisingly dark and heavy to open. Horn melodies follow as things lighten. Xylophone? before 1 1/2 minutes. Flute then comes in and leads the way. Drums are great. Flute is back 5 minutes in. Darker after 6 minutes. Great tune. "East Of Diamond" opens with restrained organ sounds before sax comes in with drums and piano. The melody stops after 3 minutes as scraping sonds can be heard from the guest violin, cello and viola players. This continues until a sax led melody returns after 5 minutes. "Sam's Room" is a short jazzy tune. "3 Pennies" features piano melodies throughout.

A really good album that doesn't quite match their earlier recordings. This one is smoother and jazzier overall not as Avant that's for sure. Still an excellent record they should be proud of.