WAR AND PEACE, EPISODE VII

You know that this album is going to be a blast when you read the title: "War and Peace, Episode VII". The album is an instrumental fusion and funk affair that tells the story of zeppelin riding 19th century Russians led by Chingachgook from "The Leatherstocking Tales" battling Darth Vader and The Galactic Empire from "Star Wars". Yeah, it's that type of album.

Launching from a folk song replete with the saxophone that is the main vehicle for the jazz side of the work's equation, the music quickly picks up the pace, coming to be driven by a very funky bass that bends the rest of the instruments to its will. The sax remains light, jumpy, and playful, and peppy '70's prog style keys round out the main arsenal of the album. Guitar is a secondary affair for the most part, coming to a head, however, in tracks like "Steel Zeppelins For The First Cavalry Army", where they bring a power prog metal backbone to bear alongside the main instruments. Even forgetting the wonderfully crazy concept, this is a very fun record to listen to, focused on providing salvos of energetic and ever playful sounds and tunes just because. Progheads with a taste for fusion, funk, and varying styles looking for a simply pleasurable listen will find a lot to love here.