MAKAJODAMA

A enjoyable first album from Sweden's eclectic, chamber, post-rockin' quartet. The album is wonderfully complete even if I still feel that it lacks a certain overall cohesiveness and tends to repeat itself a little. I think the repetition lies in the extended use of 'jams' in the rhythm section; the improvised nature of this record is what elevates it to wonderful heights and kind of mediocre, middles for me. Thankfully the moments that stand out, really stick with you: the bass lines are as memorable as anything Roger Waters played on Dark Side of the Moon and the orchestral arrangements are very professional, while still sounding improvised in many places. This band has stated that it does not want to use genre classifications for its music and it is very evident in the way this album is composed. I will definitely be watching all future releases from this band.

A track by track review...

1. Reodor Felgen Blues (10:15) : An instant classic right from the beginning; an atmosphere of Larks' Tongues/Red era Crimson fills the environ being created in the beginning by this Swedish quartet. Not a minute and a half pass by before this bassy and groovy aura is split in half by a most perfect crash, which subsequently creates an aura of fearful splendor, leading the song into its next phase. Eventually things cool down again, but not for long as a repeat storm looms around the next corner, taking the song to its end.

2. Buddha and the Camel (9:25): An acoustic track that invokes some of the moods presented on Anekdoten's "The War Is Over" and "Karelia". A pleasant exchange of sombre violin, acoustic guitar and bird calls. An electrified, psychedelic solo emerges from this and woodwinds accompany it.

3. Wolof (2:31): Almost a continuation of the previous track, acoustic guitar and birds are caught up in a rhapsody while an interesting tuba - at least I think it's a tuba - line meanders through the composition.

4. The Train of Thought (6:58): Post-rock that features arpeggiated violins and an interesting bit of twangy slide guitar textures, building but never quite exploding in epic fanfare, crescendo. Excellent meditative track.

5. The Ayurvedic Soap (7:42): Chamber-rock with a jazz bass backing. Propelled by the rising drum beat while violins lead a demented melody and wind instruments solo like Hendrix and the band of Gypsys.

6. Vallingby Revisited (3:00): An improvisation piece, jazzy.

7. The Girls at the Marches (8:16): A near perfect post-rock track that shows some Pink Floyd influence. The guitar tone on this track is the most memorable part, delayed and whammy inflected chords lead into a driving cello surge that instantly put this piece in a place where God Is An Astronaut usually inhabits. The track ends with a spacey vibration that has the timbre of what I can only describe as an electric harmonica.

8. Autumn Suite (8:29): Equal measures of dissonant and melodious bursts of chamber orchestration reminiscent of Univers Zero. This track is wonderfully made, kind of reminding me of a piece under the direction of Frank Zappa on Hot Rats. Also features a sitar.

Favorite tracks: (1) Reodor Felgen Blues, (2) Buddha and the Camel, (7) The Girls at the Marches and (8) Autumn Suite

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