STOP MOMENTUM

COBALT BLUE are basically a duo out of Brazil who are very much influenced by PINK FLOYD, KING CRIMSON and THE MARS VOLTA. I feel like I didn't do my homework with this album as the psychedelia content is sparse on here but the heavy insanity like THE MARS VOLTA is here in spades. Not many bands could do what THE MARS VOLTA do and make it work in my opinion including these guys. We get up to 10 guests adding trumpets, saxes, bass, guitar, Hammond, percussion and backing vocals. The biggest turn-off for me are the vocals that sound like they are from the 90's the way he shouts the lyrics, not singing but speaking or shouting. Man this made me want to put this aside until much later down the road but I decided to persevere.

The best song by far is the "At Due Gesture" where we get none of the vocal style I just described in this almost 9 minute opener. Keys to start but soon drums and a fuller sound arrive. Nice bass here and it's actually kind of jazzy as brief male vocals join in around 1 1/2 minutes. The organ and guitar will both come and go then the vocals return before 3 minutes. The sound is building until after 4 minutes but then it turns experimental. Soon we're hearing spoken male and female voices followed by atmosphere and guitar expressions. More vocals at 7 1/2 minutes and this is the only song I'd call psychedelic other than maybe "All We Have Are Oscillations".

"Bereaved" opens and closes with drums only. In between we get some aggressive guitar then the organ lights it up. We get a prolonged powerful instrumental section until 3 minutes in. "Cataclysm" is powerful from the start and here we get lots of loud shouting. Just not into this. He will eventually be whispering, speaking and screaming. A tough listen.

"Drops N' Doors" is just over 2 minutes of dual vocals only throughout. "Catalyst" is a heavy track with vocals. Some guest sax and guitar on this one. "All We Have Are Oscillations" is another favourite after the opener. Dissonant horns, atmosphere and experimental sounds. The guitar starts to rise out of this playing a melody before it becomes aggressive. Samples end it.

"Dweller Of The Sevenfold" opens with guitars as drums and bass join in, organ as well. The wild vocals turn me off once again as he starts to yell. I do like when they slow it down and it becomes experimental starting around 3 1/2 minutes. The guitar starts to solo after 5 1/2 minutes then it kicks in with some power. Tempo shifts continue.

"Circadian Clock" has a lighter start with some really nice bass as the vocals join in. Guitar 1 1/2 minutes in as the vocals step aside. A calm before 3 1/2 minutes but it's very brief as the vocals shout and scream and the sound becomes powerful. "Luciferase" will be lit up by the guitar fairly quickly before female vocals join in as the guitar stops. These contrasts continue. Love the bass.

This just goes counter to my tastes in music unfortunately but if you like heavier music with aggressive vocals and a touch of psychedelia you might just love this album. 3 stars.