CATERPILLARMEN

I am always happy when I discover new and talented bands who have something interesting to share, and I am also happy when those bands come from countries that musically talking are not really familiar to me. This time I came across this curious and original band from Iceland named Caterpillarmen, who started playing some years ago and released a first album last year (2010), and a second one this year (2011) which (thanks to them) I could download and of course enjoy.

Their avant-garde tendencies are clear, I assume that they are familiar with some older RIO and even Zeuhl acts, or at least, that is what I believe judging by their sound. This album entitled "Caterpillarmen" features 8 compositions and a total time of 33 minutes, I would have loved a couple of songs more here, but well, it was their decision.

They are a four-member band playing the "basic" instruments: guitars, bass, keys, drums. This is an instrumental band, for sure. So the album kicks off with "Party" which shows a definitely weird and avant-gardish guitar sound, and a strong bass sound that in moments reminds me to the zeuhl ones. "Defeat" starts like the end of a live-performance, and then little by little they are creating a quirky, not easy to digest or understand, but in the end a cool track. As I've read, they have King Crimson as an influential band (who doesn't?) and I believe they do have some hints of them.

"Revenge" is definitely one of the highlights here, with interesting and intelligently structured pauses, changes and explosions, showing the creativity and skills of the musicians. I love those moments of tension when it definitely stops and just a kind of limbo sound remains. "Parteyh!" is like the continuation of the previous track, the weird sound prevails but now some kind of enthusiastic or hyperactive music is created. I imagine someone getting addicted by this, and running like a crazy man from one place to another, haha.

"Now the Man" and "Dreaming" are both the shortest tracks off this album, reaching less than three minutes. The first one is like a game, a piece divided in thousand pieces that are being drop off by the different instruments, until all together sound and create a wonderful unstructured chaos. At half the song it changes and now it does have a rhythm and a style, a curious one that may put you in a positive mood. The second one has a softer and relaxing sound, with the surprising addition of some vocals, this track reminds me a bit of Pink Floyd's More era.

"Nos the Man Super Mega Time" is one of their best moments here without a doubt. An original and challenging track that in moments seems to have lost its goal, but that always is recovered. You may think that they are a jam session band, but actually they do have a well composed and accurately performed track. The last track is "Re-Re-Remix" which honestly in my opinion was not the best choice as a closer song, I would have preferred something any of the previous tracks, this is just a weird but not that cool moment to fill the album.

However, this is a worth checking album, and better said, a worth checking band, with interesting things to share. My final grade will be three stars.

Enjoy it!

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