FEEDING THE MONKIES AT MA MAISON

It's a bit comforting that here we are, eighteen years after Frank Zappa's untimely passing, and there is an album of unreleases material that just came out. Thank you, Frank. And thank you Gail.

This album was recorded around the time of "Jazz From Hell" (vaultmeister Joe Travers believes it was recorded after that album, and I would not disagree), and the first three tracks were meant to be releases on a vinyl LP, with the same title used here. The last two tracks were added on by Gail Zappa and Joe Travers, and seem to fit perfectly with the other pieces.

Two tracks, Buffalo Voice and Secular Humanism were edited down by Frank and used on the "Civilization Phase III" album. Here they are in their original form, each over twice the length of the previously released versions.

I will admit that Zappa's Synclavier works are an acquired taste. He used the Synclavier the way Conlon Nancarrow used player pianos, as a means to perform the music in his head, music that mere mortals could never accomplish.

The music, on the surface is chaotic and random. But when you listen intently, moods appear in the madness, and even sometimes sounds and phrases from other Zappa works poke through. And all of it is spiced with Frank's sense of humor. Some parts might even make you laugh out loud.

While to me this is a five star album, I cannot call it essential to everyone. And it is not rock by any definition. So I give it four stars.