QUARTERS !

One of only two 2015 album releases from these psychedelic Aussies, Quarters ! shows a much more organized, cohesive, and diversified jam band than before.

1. "The River" (10:10) almost a Dave Brubeck "Take Five" feel to this one! I love the laid back singing and groove--the way Stu sings following his own guitar note-play. The jazzed-up instrumental section set to its Latin rhythm track in the fourth and fifth minutes is awesome! The emptyied-out passage in the sixth minute is a bit unusual, but I suppose it supplies (in the true jazz sense) a decent segue back to the singing motif. Love the "The River" shouts punctuating the back during the eighth minute before the next descent into quietude--and then the SANTANA-like slow jam to close out the song. Nice job! (18.25/20)

2. "Infinite Rise" (10:10) a little too monotonous with its eight minutes of repetitious two-chord guitar-strum-and- vocal cadence and intermittent animal noises. Could've come from a GRATEFUL DEAD concert jam. (15.75/20)

3. "God Is in the Rhythm" (10:10) recorded as if from the early 1960s--British R&B-influenced rock--something like The Pretty Things or The Yardbirds might've done. It's very interesting as a retro-replicant, but not so much for bringing anything new to the 21st Century (though I do like the Jerry Garcia-like guitar work in the choruses and instrumental interludes). (17.5/20)

4. "Lonely Steel Sheet Flyer" (10:10) The vocals of this gently swaying psychedelic music remind me a little bit of ARCADE FIRE or THE ANNUALS; the feel of the music like some of WEST INDIAN GIRL or PERPLEXA's more sedate stuff. A very pleasant, engaging song for the first five minutes. Then a kind of break occurs before we return to a prolonged instrumental section using pretty much the same pace and rhythms as the first half. Definitely a laid back Australian beach song. (17.75/20)

Total Time 40:40

Hard to believe this is the same band that did I'm in Your Mind Fuzz the year before! Though still a little loose in a GRATEFUL DEAD-like jam-tradition, there are some fine construction and instrumental performances here.

B+/four stars; a wonderfully refreshing journey into retro-psych rock and quite an improvement on their previous year's releases. Highly recommended!

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