VS MABUS

Now here is an album that just blew me away completely from the start to the finish. The basically unheard of progressive rock jazz fusion Canadian outfit called Mahogany Frog have done it to the max this time. This album deserves a ton more exposure than it has received and would be one of the best albums I have heard in a number of years. Mahogany Frog mix modern music phraseology with the old 70's vibes and sounds to create a truly engulfing wall of sound that sticks for his music lover. There a 4 epic tracks on this album as well and each number is given lots of space to unfold and create its own vibe. Tons of vintage keyboards (Farfisa, moog ?etc?) with deep bass, guitar, trumpet, flute and wonky effects. This is one of those fantastic headphone experience albums as well with excellent soundscapes and tones. Lovers of fusion rock will also likely get off on this band ! Overall and excellent album

An interesting Canadian band,started as a Psychedelic/Jam/Alternative Rock act by multi- instrumentalists Graham Epp and Jesse Warkentin along with bassist Nathan Loewen and later drummer Jean-Paul Perron.Their debut ''Plays the blues'' from 2001 was a mix of the above description,but then the band arised to a seven-piece act with the addition of keyboards and wind instruments.''The living sounds'' from 2003 sees the band introducing these new elements,but still searching for a particular style.The next year Mahogany Frog moved to Winnipeg and were shortened again to a quartet with new bassist Scott Ellenberger with the prog influences playing now a basic role to their sound.''Vs Mabus'', distributed by Teargas Recording Tree in 2004,just confirms the fact.

The opening 12-min. ''Spooky'' is a good Psych/Prog piece with varied guitar work and nice work on electronics,synthesizers and effects.It is followed by the short but very intense ''St. Helga of Argyle'',where jazzy guitars battle with synths and organ in a very Canterbury- influenced track.More from Canterbury inspiration on the 11-min. ''The Third Machine'' and this one is a stunning cut,where I can't help thinking of HATFIELD AND THE NORTH, CARAVAN but especially NATIONAL HEALTH when listening to it plus an evident NUCLEUS vibe.Impressive interplays between organ,Farfisa,piano and synths with the guitars with also a psychedelic start with wind instruments will complete a beautiful experience.The 17-min. ''Paul's Overalls Hold Mould'' is the amalgam of all Mahogany Frog's inspirations.A mix of Psychedelic/Kraut jamming sessions with Heavy Rock and Jazz-Rock with a rich sound,shifting moods and improvisational parts with lost of electronic effects added.A really ambitious and interesting number.The album will close with the 13-min. '' Boat Alone (We're Not Sailing in This...)'' and its respectful electronic/synth effects start,which will leave their place to some nice Canterbury/Jazz-Prog with beautiful work on organ and piano,the already familiar jazzy style of Warkentin's guitar with also some lovely flute passages added,a track which features the best of the album's sudden breaks.

This band should have entered the prog world sometime earlier.But it is never too late at least and Mahogany Frog released some of the most finest Canterbury-influenced Jazz/Prog ever to be recorded by a modern band.Strongly recommended, especially if you are an addict of bands in the vein of CARAVAN,THE SOFT MACHINE, GILGAMESH, HATFIELD AND THE NORTH and NATIONAL HEALTH or artists like BRIAN AUGER snd KEVIN AYERS.

4.5 stars. I wasn't expecting this. After thoroughly enjoying "The Living Sounds Of Mahogany Frog" from 2003 we see the band dropping back to a four piece from that expanded six piece album. They also moved from Saskatchewan to Winnipeg but they have kept that same "sound" intact. That "sound" involves a lot of variety including Jazz, Psychedelic, Electronic, Canterbury and more. It all works to perfection here. I just find that I have no issues with this one and they've hit new highs.

"Mahogany Frog VS Mabus" begins with "Spooky" and an experimental start before we get this achingly beautiful melody that will come and go. This is a 12 minute track and again just blown away at the compositions here. Some nice heavy sections on this one too along with nature sounds and other samples. Lots of trippy passages with those sounds that echo. Canterbury is the word for the next track "St.Helga Of Argyle" with that farfisa and this is surprisingly short at less than 3 1/2 minutes but a favourite of many who own this record. Just a feel good tune all the way.

"The Third Machine" is pretty cool as it trips along with sounds that echo and farfisa. Trumpet at 2 1/2 minutes and it will lead in a melancholic manner soon after. Some nasty sounding keyboards around 5 minutes in. So good! I just can't get enough of this section with the trumpet and more over top. Amazing! Canterbury organ 6 minutes in only adds to this as the guitar solos too. Check out that sinister bass line in atmosphere after 9 minutes. Some inventive guitar expressions too. It turns heavy then more distorted organ.

"Paul's Overalls Hold Mould" is the longest track at 17 1/2 minutes. This is pretty much free jazz to start with avant piano as the drums and bass become quite active. This is legit! Blew me away the first time I heard it. It's just surprising for a band to be so into all these different styles of music. It does change and electric piano joins the heavy sound with jazzy drums. Some experimental guitar 4 minutes in. Just incredible as that bass keeps everything in line. Electric piano and guitar over the bass and drums a minute later. More avant material again before 6 minutes. Great stuff until a change after 12 minutes. Man this is jazzy and I need more adjectives. As far as the electric piano goes you need to hear this track. It's building until just before 14 minutes as atmosphere pulses loudly. Drum solo after 16 minutes then it turns jazzy again late.

"Boat Alone(We're Not Sailing In This...)" ends it all and it begins with electronics galore. A symphonic flavour after a minute with some nasty electronics. Organ and pulsating sounds too. A light jazzy sound takes over before 3 minutes that will be repeated on this song throughout. Man that little "toot toot" makes me laugh every time then they just trip along in this style. Keyboards echo. Guitar and some feedback after 9 minutes as it turns experimental with layers of sound. So inventive then more organ and more repeated themes to the end.

I decided to bump this up to 5 stars because I just can't see how it can get any better than this. Such a consistent record without any throw away sections plus they hit these incredible and surprising highs throughout. I love this album!