Arthur Moon
Chaos! Chaos! Chaos! Side B
Switch Hit Records
This isn’t THAT chaotic. In fact, this project offers a rather calming 1960s lounge style that predates rap, punk, and anything coming out of a sub woofer.
“Ghost Ranch” opens the disc, and a pleasant vocal warbles gentle-sounding words, even if they don’t really make much sense. My first thought is we’ve entered a sedate bar. And this sound is intended to calm us, relax us, and maybe allow us to have a few drinks. It recalls a really strong, well-made cocktail I had last week. My bartender wouldn’t lie, would he? We sit down and order another when track two “What My Name Was” clicks in. It opens with a slow-mo hip-hop beat on downers. Vocals arrive from that same singer who serenades the small room. I like this space.
A thought forms in my head but escapes before I capture it. Now I visualize the sci-fi sound effects of a warp drive threatening to implode, but I don’t alert the captain. There’s no point in stressing him out, I’ll just start filling out the paperwork. Wait a parsec — the captain is the guy making your drinks! But back to the music… It’s a funny, floaty sound, almost as if you left a gummy out in the sun for too long and you’re now having a small problem as you float above the bar and the air conditioning pushes you toward another patron. Fortunately, a long silence opens track six, “Say Less.” I now know too late that the vocalist is talking or singing telepathically, and that unites me with the lyric. I feel like petting a cat, but I don’t have one on me. I wonder if they are hard to get…
We now approach the end of this journey with the track “It Calls,” featuring Raia Was. No idea who Raia is, was, or will be, but now I’m entranced by the album art. A grid of letter-shaped food items spells out the band name and title. Twice! It’s an arresting graphic and sturdy counterpoint to the calm serenity of the music. My only complaint is the title implies action, while the music advises calm. Chill… Chill… Chill…
Good night.
