Guitarist Nels Cline sounds like he’s going back into the psychedelic 60s on this recent album with saxist Skerik, keyboardist Brian Marsella, bassist Trevor Young, drummer Scott Amendola and percussionist Cyro Baptista.
Long jams such as on “Stump the Panel” or “A Place on The Moon feature long pulsating rhythms, Nels at times tapping into his inner Jimi Hendrix with distortion and searing pedal pushing, and Skerik’s tenor wailing like Albert Ayler. Shades of Miles Davis’ Jack Johnson or In A Silent Way are felt on the mix of Eastern Mysticism and dark shadows on “Segunda” with Skerik breathy and shh-peaceful on “Nightstand”. Cline is soft and delicate on “Headdress” before the drapery of echoes and tenor sax comes in, with an overall feel of the band being the opening act for Mahavishnu Orchestra or The Grateful Dead, with some wild keyboards and percussion sounding like a Peter Max black light poster. Bring out the lava lamp!