VOLUME ONE

`Volume One' by new band Perhaps has rapidly been picking up a lot of attention in a short time from Prog appreciators, and without a doubt it's one of the most exhausting, maddening and totally schizophrenic releases in some time! One minute it's a psych heavy fusion jam, then experimental hard Kraut, tuneless aggressive noisy dark jazz and menacing cinematic Post Rock. Full of lovely fluid grumbling bass, psychotic but tight drumming and manic finger-plucking electric guitar runs, it makes for an astounding and exhilarating piece of instrumental prog rock that reminds us just how good and truly progressive, original and still surprising this genre can be when done well.

Fans of the ragged guitar jams of Guru Guru, angry Yes moments like the opening of `Close To The Edge' and much of `Gates Of Delirium' and the jazzy aggression/noisy ambience of `Lizard/Islands era King Crimson will find much to appreciate here. Add in a touch of the more manic Mars Volta moments (without the squealing vocals), a pinch of early Canterbury scene and the hostility of Van der Graaf Generator for good measure, throw it all in a blender and you may end up with something like this album!

After a deeply ambient and mysterious drifting introduction, like a rocket taking off, a blast of aggressive quirky bass, rapid-fire chaotic drum-work and insane guitar explodes right in the listener's ear. The 38 minute piece jumps back and forth between frantic and urgent guitar assaults, playful but noisy jazz detours and groovy angular sections, constantly speeding up and down, back and forth, swirling all around the listener. Plenty of blistering soloing, but fortunately there's a looseness to the playing that means it never comes across as an overly-constructed and lifelessly over-technical behemoth. The finale has lovely chiming guitar blowing amongst an impossibly heavy and grand Post-rock orchestral finale that wraps the album in a very stirring and grand manner.

Likely some will find the constantly shifting dynamics, overwhelming noise and heaviness and multitude of styles to be totally jarring and chaotic, and it IS those things, without that actually being a negative description. There's not a lot of subtlety or restraint, so perhaps the band could incorporate a few more sedate and calmer moments into their next release, and give us all some time to breath! But Perhaps are a band with endless ideas and potential, and hopefully a bright future on the strength of this pure draining rush of noisy adrenaline and fascinating mix of textures awaits. `Volume One' is like an atomic blast up the stuffy old prog-fans rear-ends - just what this genre needs every now and then! Four stars.

What a way to make an entrance!