GETTING PAID

ZECHS MARQUISE is perhaps most famous for having two brothers of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez(THE MARS VOLTA) on board, heck their debut even has a third brother guesting on it. This one really won me over after several spins and I'm not big on variety(which this has lots of) but this is a really interesting album where they've tried some adventerous things. The guitar and synths seem to be the instruments that lead the way here and there are some guest female vocal on a couple of tracks.

"Getting Paid" is a track that reminds me of John Paul Jones "Zooma" album. Man this grooves with a killer rhythm section, so catchy. Actually I'm reminded of a lot of different bands as I listen to this album. There are some crazy synths at one point and check out the guitar after 5 1/2 minutes. This is a top three track along with the next one "Lock Jaw Night Vision" which opens with atmosphere but it kicks in quickly. Love the guitar expressions. It then settles with synths and percussion and the contrasts will continue. Check out the mellotron around 3 1/2 minutes then the tempo picks up as they rip it up. A calm 4 1/2 minutes in as it ends like it began. "Static Lovers" opens with experimental sounds then it kicks in after a minute with the guitar lighting it up. Vocals after 3 minutes but they are brief.

"The Heat, The Drought, The Thirst And The Insanity" is my other top three tune. Female vocals sounding like Petronella from PAATOS doing a RIO album. We get a slow grind instrumentally when she stops and the guitar comes in. An interesting track to say the least. The female vocals are back again 2 1/2 minutes in and I like the keyboard sounds 4 1/2 minutes in. Love when the guitar returns later. "Time Masters" is surprising in that it's an electronic tune. It blends into "Guajiro" where percussion starts to dominate the sound quickly before the bass and guitar help out. Some nice guitar work 3 minutes in followed by a calm with lots of atmosphere. "Everlasting Beacon Of Light" is laid back but catchy as processed male vocals arrive before 1 1/2 minutes and they will come and go. The guitar comes to the fore around 4 1/2 minutes. "Crushin' It!" has a nice heavy sound to it to start but then it settles back some. I like the main melody. it's heavy again before 2 1/2 minutes. "Mega Slap" features electronics and mellotron. Nice! It kicks into an uptempo drum driven sound before a minute though. The mellotron is back! The synths late really impress.

It took some time but I really appreciate this album. A talented group.