The first track comes in like a Byrne-produced angry Doors song. Secondly is a sweet acoustic-ish friendly percussive homespun melody turning into tribal psychedelic. Continued interesting use of samples. Next is a jazzy acoustic riff, some strings, a foot tap, and a Counting Crows-ish vocal. Number Four’s entrance is a la an old 78 rpm disc, with brush snare kit and a slithery blues guitar line with a Reznor treated vocal – interspersed with a “Dear Prudence” walking chorus.
Okay, there’s eight more tracks, and most of each has its own unique personality and atmosphere. Sometimes even the intra-track metamorphosis is astounding, yet gentle. There is something traditional instilled in their musical roots. Strong and freewheelin’.
No band info is given, but the impression of this five piece is one of a jazz-swing player, an Allman Bros. admirer, a wayward member of some classic ’60s rock band, an incidental Oasis player, and a midwestern relative of one of the Dust Brothers.
Poor Gomez. They may never make it in the big music biz. Their trademark diversity may be deadly, but they don’t seem to care. This is a band who takes genre lightly in big giant steps. No matter what kind of music you like you’ll probably find something that surprises you here, and you’ll appreciate the rest.
