ALTRA SECCATURA

The pop jazz neoCanterburians from Bristol are back with another foray into--this one even more close to the modern psych-pop trends that Anglo bands like Antique Seeking Nuns, Tame Impala, Syd Arthur, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, and, most recently, Zopp have explored (as well as Swedish band Dungen).

1. "Obligations" (3:14) sounds like something that might have come from one of the Antique Seeking Nuns releases 20 years ago. Either that or 3RDegree. (8.75/10)

2. "Daddy" (5:35) Tame Impala/King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard/Syd Arthur and XTC/The Beatles. Great vocal arrangements. (8.75/10)

3. "Waltz of the Four Dark Corners" (3:50) a very interesting sound that conjures up memories of some 1960s songs while remaining totally 21st Century NeoCanterbury ((8.667/10)

4. "Positive" (3:43) pulsing accordion opens this one before strummed "gypsy" guitar and "Hurdy Gurdy"-treated voice enters. The vocal becomes more and more reminiscent of The Beatles' "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite". Still, a good song. Definitely a top three. (9/10)

5. "Do the Death" (4:34) sounds like it's going to be a song from a show like The Rocky Horror Picture Show--both in title and music. Oddly happy/upbeat song about the pandemic and human history's dance with epidemics and plagues. (8.667/10)

6. "Bistro!" (4:58) a very odd song in which the vocalist and band seem to be at complete odds throughout--the forced, straining, pitchy vocalist seems to be in a universe in which the "key" is exclusively of his own making (and rules). At the same time, there is a very Andy Partridge feel to it. (8.5/10)

7. "Forever" (3:53) nice pop music and catchy melodies. Another top three song. (8.75/10)

8. "Man Friday" (4:18) opens with organ play over walk-paced rock rhythm section. Hammond gets strong before disappearing to make way for the vocalist(s) but returns for . Cute song. (8.75/10)

9. "The Crane" (3:48) another song that opens sounding very, very much like a John Lennon/Beatles song. But, at the 0:30 mark the horns and bass instruments enter to take things into a different direction: one that could still be Beatles but has a little more klezmer feel and sound to it. (8.667/10)

10. Twisted Solar (6:05) a slowed-down, gentle melodic song to finish the album. Definitely the prettiest, most engaging music on the album as well as the most engaging vocal melody. Definitely could've been an ANTIQUE SEEKING NUNS song. My final top three song. (9/10)

Total Time 43:58

Well-composed and -performed funny, quirky/zesty music that is intended to support meaningful/message-delivering lyrics--which is a disadvantage for me since I do not hear or process words in music or poetry very well. I will say one thing about the vocals: the melodies presented by Alan & company are not ones that draw me in very well. Like the melodies of The Beatles, they just don't resonate within my being. But still, the upbeat nature of this music is a very nice change from the heavier music often prevalent in Prog World.

B/four stars; a nice addition of upbeat, quirky pop constructs upbeat that can help to provide a nice uplift against all the negativity of these dark times.