VS MABUS

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!