The Rabbit's Hat - "Pierce The Dark"
These songs are really interestingly constructed, programmed keyboard sounds and rhythms, complexly layered melodic vocals, unusual instrument sounds, tribal rhythms and processed electric guitar, with an incredibly smooth and consistent sound. The music is kind of new- agey, but funky and reminiscent of… something… I can't quite put my finger on it. It's kind of like a cross between early GENESIS, PARLIAMENT, FUNKADELIC and FRANK ZAPPA, but with a decidedly modern approach. The lyrics are really good as well, with a social conscience, although the songs sometimes sound like they're out of a musical. The opening track "Immaculate Deception", points out the hypocrisy of Christianity, and "Darwin On The Shelf" is about how evolution won't go any further because "Fashion drives selection now." "We Got Rot" is a bit of a rocker, but still very smooth like the rest of the CD, with some jazzy piano in the mix. "Dead Starfish" is a strange JETHRO TULL / ANDREW LLOYD WEBER hybrid about homeless people that somehow works because of the layers of bitter irony. The album wraps up with "Omaira" a beautifully sad ballad about a 13-year-old girl who died slowly in volcanic mud while the media watched but didn't help her. Overall, this CD has a unique sound that is really interesting and entertaining as well.
Ken Miller - Autoreverse