Review Summary: Yet another good volume of 'In Search of The...' This one features a couple of great jams, as well as some weirder, but still very enjoyable, tracks.
Dismantling 'In Search of The...'
Volume V
With
four (yes, four) previous reviews on this boxset, you should probably know what's going on by now. However, just in case you don't, here's the skinny on 'In Search Of The'- it was released in 2007 by Buckethead and contains 13 CDs of all new music. This is volume V, and is, overall, one of the stronger volumes from the set. It contains a lot of experimental music (which I love), but also features some more tender moments of which there are scarcely few in this boxset.
The first track on this volume is also the longest- at 10:36,
Fractal Shadows is by no means a short song. It starts out with a cool drum fill (which there are many of on this boxset), before going into a tender but poignant riff- it contains a hint of wah, as well as a great reverb effect. A solo comes overtop afterwards and sounds
great. The track picks up around the 5:50 mark, when Buckethead switches gears and performs a different style of solo. From 8:36 onwards, this song is at its finest. While I do admit that this track seems to go on for too long, it is a great song, and one of the strongest on this volume. Next up is the odd
Red Eye Spider Cloud, which is basically an interlude track. At only 1:20, it doesn't accomplish much other than making you feel uncomfortable for a short amount of time. That's not too say it's a bad song- it's basically a series of what sound like muffled firework blasts, with some weird guitar effects overtop. An interesting interlude to be sure.
Liquid Tungsten Robot Factory is next, and starts out with some loud noises. Some guitar comes in at about 25 seconds, doing some great soloing. This song is very weird, containing many different guitar effects all coming in at different times overtop the odd noises. It really does sound like an odd sort of robot factory. A lot of people are going to hate this song- I don't, however.
Bucketbot's Bass Binge Buddy is next, and is pure funk. The first bass line is sure to get you to move your head forward and backward to the beat, do the robot, or both. The drum beat is great too. There is no guitar in this song- just bass and drums. There is a cool interlude around the 5:05 mark too. At 10:15, this song goes on for a while, but is great with the popping bass and excellent backing drums. This is good background music, or just listening to it is good as well.
Atomic Butterfly starts out with a demented techno-sort of feel, before switching gears and changing feel completely, going to an odd drum beat. And then- woah... what? It goes back to the original riff, and then into a
violin part (yes, a violin). This part is really effective, and the next part of the track with the electronic drums and ambiance is great too. The ending funk part of the track is probably the weakest part, just because there's been so much funk already on the disc. Overall though, this song is great, and one of the best in the set.
Sanders' Retort' is another interlude, with a loud drum beat overtop some funk bass and guitar. At the end of the song, the drum beat changes. This is an okay interlude, but definitely nothing too special.
Percolates Jazz.. The Last Drop is another odd song, with a drum beat and guitar on top of a very odd-sounding two-note pattern. The guitar on this song is great, utilizing many different patterns. The end of this song sounds very demented, with a detuned piano overtop electronic drums with soft guitar chords overtop. The outro is definitely the best part of this song.
A Moment I Can Give is a stellar song. The riffs used throughout are great, and the backing drums are excellent too. This is one of the most emotional songs on all of 'In Search Of The', and features great riffs throughout. The last minute of this song is especially powerful. This song doesn't run for too long either, at 2:58 in length. A brilliant song. The final song on the album,
Funeral Parlor, is basically straight ambiance for 4:05. While it is fairly repetitive, it still remains interesting, what with the note switches here and there. A good ambient song.
Overall, Volume V of 'In Search Of The' is a good volume and a worthy addition to the set. It features some great songs (
'Fractal Shadows', 'Bucketbot's Bass Binge Buddy', 'Atomic Butterfly', 'A Moment I Can Give', etc.) and those that aren't great are still good. This is a solid addition to the set. I recommend it.
