ALTRA STRATA [BY BLAST4TET]

This is BLAST's fifth studio album released in 2003. Quite a change in direction from their earlier works. We still have that complex Avant-garde instrumental brand of music they play, but this is far less rigid with more improvs too. Much more enjoyable as far as i'm concerned. I remember the first album I heard from them called "Stringy Rugs", it was so difficult to digest, I mean it was over my head. If I hadn't purchased "A Sophisticated Face" at the same time that would have been the last I would have heard from the band. Fortunately "A Sophisticated Face" was easier on my brain but still a tough listen. Many have said "Altrastrata" is their best record which is why I decided to check it out. I agree by the way. Lots of electronics on here as well. Bob Drake helped to mix it.

"Walking Matters" has these outbursts of horns,drums and other sounds.Very cool sounding. Some dissonance as well. "H.O.I." opens with the sax making some noise. It's sparse as we get some loud bangs of percussion coming and going. It kicks in before 2 1/2 minutes then settles right down again as the mood continues to change. It's intense 8 1/2 minutes in to end it. "Tectonic Re-Birth" has such a great sound early on with the baritone sax coming and going with other sounds. It reminds me of THE PLASTIC PEOPLE OF THE UNIVERSE. Electronics after 2 minutes.The sound fades off into the distance 4 minutes in as it changes. Horns blast as drums and other sounds come and go.

"Multi-Salsa" opens with atmosphere as horns join in. Drums rumble in around a minute. It kicks in at 2 minutes then settles back after 4 minutes but there's still lots of tension. "Taliba Orgena" is dark and kind of haunting. It picks up before 2 minutes then settles right back. It's creepy before 4 1/2 minutes to end it. "Scape" is almost catchy. Well not quite. Dissonant horns 3 1/2 minutes in. "On Ice" opens with dissonant horns and drums. Head-banging time (okay not really). A change after 2 minutes then it picks up with horns 6 minutes in. "Agatesa" is dark with sparse sounds. It picks up before 2 minutes including some angular guitar. It settles late like the intro.

If you want to check this band out i'd start here. 4.5 stars.