OUTRE MER

On Outre Mer ("overseas"), Garage a Trois complete their maturation from a nom de plume used for goofing off between serious sessions and into a full-blown project in their own right. The spaciness of the debut EP has faded away, as has the improvisational approach and mild aimlessness, and in its place stands a set of much more polished compositions. As on the preceding Emphasizer, the key to this shift is the arrival of Mike Dillon on percussion; here, his vibes and other implements are integrated fully into the group's sound, taking the listener on a funk-infused trip across choppy waters. Skerik and Dillon's interactions are a particular treat and suggest later and more bizarre collaborations, such as their work in the Dead Kenny G's. Fun stuff, though it still feels a bit like the sort of throwaway project the original EP was.