STILL LIFE WITH EGGPLANT

MOTORPSYCHO's last three studio albums have been nothing short of incredible in my opinion. I feel that this one and "Behind The Sun" are in the same style, more "Rock" albums but certainly more adventerous than your average Rock band. I just really dig everything about these two albums as they recall the music of my youth. "The Death Defying Unicorn" is a different beast, a much more adventerous and proggier recording and the one i'd rate as the best of the three. Reine Fiske from LANDBERK, PAATOS, DUNGEN etc. adds some innovative guitar on all but the opening track. Thankfully he was back for the 2015 release "Behind The Sun".

"Hell Part 1-3" is the almost 10 minute opener. A slow but heavy intro kicks into gear 2 minutes in and man this sounds good. Vocals before 3 minutes but they stop a minute later. The guitar is ripping it up 5 minutes in as the drums pound. Just an amazing section here. Vocals are back 6 1/2 minutes in but again they stop a minute later as it calms right down with drums and bass only. Nice. Guitar 8 minutes in as it stays laid back right to the end.

"August" is powerful and all instrumental to start and I must say I love this. I'm reminded of ZEPPELIN actually with the guitar and sound then it settles right down as the vocals join in. Contrasts continue. I miss August as we're getting a snow storm at the moment with high winds. This is such a feel good tune for me. Check out the guitar before 3 minutes, so good as it goes on and on for 1 1/2 minutes. "Barleycorn(Let It Come/ Let It Be)" opens with intricate guitar melodies as reserved vocals join in. It's fuller a minute in but still understated until it turns more powerful before 1 1/2 minutes. A calm follows with reserved vocals and intricate guitar like earlier as contrasts continue. I like how this builds then calms back down. Nice guitar before 4 1/2 minutes in this powerful section including some vocal melodies before it calms back down. It's building again until it kicks in before 6 1/2 minutes.

"Ratcatcher" is the over 17 minute epic. Atmosphere and interesting guitar expressions to start. It's building and the vocals join in before 3 minutes. It settles back a minute later as we get some inventive instrumental work. Love this stuff! It feels like they are jamming. It's becoming more intense after 7 minutes. Fiske is insane! Vocals return after 11 minutes then stop 1 1/2 minutes later as it settles down quite a bit until it's quiet 13 1/2 minutes in as they continue to jam but in a laid back manner to the end. "The Afterglow" reminds me of a late sixties Psyche-Folk song for the first 2 plus minutes with soft vocals before it turns fuller as the drums join in before 2 1/2 minutes and the vocals are stronger too. The vocals stop and we get this all instrumental section that is quite powerful with the guitar lighting it up over top. Vocals are back late.

A top three album for me for 2013 and one I highly recommend.