Review Summary: Jazz fusion collides with psychedelic/progressive rock in another beautifully chaotic solo effort from the Mars Volta's other half.
Released after his collaboration EP with Lydia Lunch, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez produces an album that is still frantic and chaotic, but focused and cohesive. Rodriguez-Lopez fans are familiar by now with his unconventional style of music and his love affair with eccentricity, but on his fourth studio album he delivers in a way that feels refreshing and invigorating.
The album opens with “Melting Chariots” in which Rodriguez-Lopez’s funk influence can clearly be heard. Saxophonist Adrian Terrazas-Gonzalez takes the lead, bringing a festive jazz vibe to the track.
“Knee Deep In the Loving Hush of Heresy” seems lackluster at first, but is more of a grower. If listened to as an experimental jazz song, it could become more appealing.
“Jacob Van Lennepkade II” is a fearless 18-minute jam, that seems to blow its predecessor from the Omar Rodriguez album out of the water.
“Fuerza de Liberacion” features distorted Spanish spoken-word from Rodriguez-Lopez. “Spared from the Insult List” and “Baby Fat” continue in the theme of impressive focused jams that fuse Latin influences with psychedelic rock and acid jazz.
The title track is an epic experimental ambient monster with electronic effects as well as free-form instrumentation.
The album closes with “Coma Pony,’ which could be a Sade song with edge in another universe.
Overall Rodriguez-Lopez has presented an album that isn’t a sharp departure from his familiar style, but is a project that stands out from the others as something that is very well put together and more accessible.
