Табу / TABOO

After the mostly folk debut with some mild fusion Аквариум (Aquarium) started to ramp up their experimental side and created some seriously good art rock. Табу (Taboo) is their 4th official release and there's no folk to be found here. Instead we get a collage of sounds with the primary template for the tracks varying from new wave, blues, Steely Dan type jazz-rock, BTO type boogie rock to reggae.

The most distinct feature of this particular album is the absolutely bizarre, demented and frenetic ragtime and honky tonk piano that accompanies many of the songs. It's always slightly out of tune and adds a weird tension to the otherwise melodious tracks. The result of this is a very strange sounding album that doesn't sound like any other i've heard before. There are also some guitar solos that compete with saxophone solos that give it the occasional jazzy touch. I like this art rock much better than their folky debut but their experimental phase started on their 2nd album Треугольник (Triangle).