POMOLOGY

Pomology is technically an EP based around the concept of fruit. The latest offering from this American group was released in December last year on my birthday. Their first two albums were also released in December and unfortunately albums released that late in the year tend to get ignored. "Many fruits were harmed in the making of this album" we are told. The first 'song' is called "Start Menu" and is basically a 30 minute joke. Some polka music plays and you hear: "Welcome to Pomology-a musical cornucopia. Come with me on a fruitful adeventure through rhythm and harmony, over the hills and through the fertile valleys of your brain. Press 'next' to begin" over and over and over again.

The members of the band use different accents and imitations saying those words (seemingly) endlessly. The part with auto-tune is hilarious. Eventually the bandmembers start calling you names because you are still listening to this and haven't pressed 'next' yet. Kind of amusing the first time you hear it but ultimately this experiment is pointless. The first real song is "Apple." This has an indie/country/prog vibe until the middle where it becomes symphonic prog for awhile. Nice violin in this song.

"Banana" has some great Math Rock -meets- Steve Hackett guitar playing near the beginning. Most of this song is some kind of cross between symph prog and prog metal. Gets country-ish in the middle before some nice symph prog including what sounds like sampled Mellotron. Cool synth work at the end along with a good riff. "Kiwi" features a great jazzy synth solo near the beginning. This song changes quite a bit and is mostly instrumental. "Grapefruit" starts off with some classical piano. More symphonic in general compared to the other tracks. Ends with everything getting slowed down.

This isn't quite as good as the first two albums. Clouds On Strings play a very American sounding prog where violin is an important instrument. I like the artwork for their releases. This has a good sound and is generally enjoyable but I can't give it much more than 3 stars.