MULTIPURPOSE TRAP

Dan Britton has created an incredible album here with "Multi Purpose Trap". It's one i'd describe as avant-garde first and foremost, and the attention to detail is stunning. And the way he has arranged the music with all these intricate sounds meshing together is mind- boggling. This is complex yet melodic. I just can't imagine the time that must have went into this, Dan truly is a musical genius. I first became familiar with him with the band CEREBUS EFFECT, a band put together by the former drummer for CHAOS CODE after that band had broke up. I was pleasantly surprised then to see Dan had added Cliff Phelps to his band here as Cliff was the former singer for CHAOS CODE. What a bizarre album "Multi Purpose Trap" is though and even the thick liner notes filled with these strange and interesting pictures certainly give us a clue to what the music might be like.

"The Dumb Fish" features pulsating keys, percussion and violin early on then clarinet but there is so much going on, a phrase I probably will repeat a lot. Male vocals after 2 minutes and I have to say that the male vocals provided by several people certainly have character and suit the music well. Often there are multi-vocals. "Horse-Shaped Cloud" opens with violin, percussion, clarinet and more. Male vocals after 1 1/2 minutes. This is a toe-tapper but man this is complex. Sax leads for a while then it settles back 3 minutes in. So good! It picks up with a circus vibe before 4 minutes and this continues to the end.

"Miracle Pigeon" hits the ground running, insanity! MIRIODOR comes to mind here. It's a little heavier a minute in after someone shouts. More vocals before 2 minutes. "East Is Fort Orthodox" sounds different from the rest with organ helping out as the music sort of floats along. It settles into an intricate groove after 1 1/2 minutes then the vocals join in. We get synths and sax as well. The male vocals are determined and deep 3 1/2 minutes in. A haunting and somewhat spacey conclusion to this one. Great track! "Secret Crevise" has such an incredible and intense intro. Strange vocals follow and is that moog? Just mind-bending music. How can they possibly play this? I like the sax 5 minutes in.

"Tragic Penguin" is relaxed with electric piano to start as other laid back sounds help out. I like the background synths. Violin joins in then guitar around 1 1/2 minutes. It starts to come more alive before 2 1/2 minutes then the guitar and violin start to lead. Drums join in then vocals before 3 1/2 minutes then it settles back but is heavier before 4 minutes. This is filled with intricate sounds the rest of the way. "Catapult" has so much energy to it and it's lot of fun as well. Vocals after a minute. A nice heavy sound 3 1/2 minutes in with sax over top. It picks up again after 4 1/2 minutes. Some brief vocals as well. How impressive does this sound before 9 minutes? A collage of sounds weaved so perfectly together.

"Aviator Prosco" might be my favourite. Sax and atmosphere to start and this one has female vocals in it. It turns instrumental around 4 1/2 minutes with horns over top. Vocals are back a minute later. Another instrumental break with guitar out front, then bass as horns blast, then lots of piano and strings. Vocals are back late. "Abominable Pelican" is the closer and longest track at 14 minutes. The vocals are most prominant on this one. It's kind of funky after 4 minutes, very cool. Lots of strings and bass in this one. I feel like I should be dancing or something while hearing this. It settles some with violin at 8 minutes and I really like the drum work. Keyboards lead 9 1/2 minutes in. Synths and vocals follow.

If your looking for some adventerous music played and arranged at the highest level you really need to check this album out.