This five song EP by guitarist/composer Shubh Saran shows an intriguing future direction for jazz six stringers. Saran claims that his goal is to have himself and his team mix jazz sensibilities with the drive and energy of punk rock music, but punk rock was never this sophisticated or intricate. Each of the songs contains a number of dynamic and direction changes, requiring the listener to maintain adherent attention.
The title track starts out like a late 70s rocker before shifting into a sweet theme pulsated along by Saran’s sleek guitar work. The rhythm team gallops on “Storm” following some edgy effects as well as clean string action, while “Safe” slips in hip hop beats, synth’d pulses and more gear changes than a mountain bike. Lovely nasal female voices and guitars create a pretty frame on “Comfort” and thick textures and melodic intricacy closes things out on “Dust”. Lots of ideas-which band will tour?