Aquanaut begin with a punch, racing guitar, swirling synthesis and an urgent thump forward. The senses are reeling, and before you’re able to compose yourself it halts on a ten cent piece making way for clipped vocals, before we ramp back up and we’re racing again. It’s this disorientation, the multiple parts, the precision, the damn punch that the kids want in their prog rock jazz fusion ensembles these days. These days of course being the mid 70’s when fusion was still vital with the Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra and the like. But let’s not get too bogged down in the past, the Mars Volta have seemingly single handedly created a new breed of tripped out prog monsters that aren’t afraid to rock both heavy and weird with occasional downtime to engage in some white hot latin funk, so who knows? I also hear elements of the Galactic Cowboys (surely one of the most underrated rock bands ever) in Aquanaut’s ability to combine heavy with melody. King Crimson guitar webs? I’m definitely stretching the links way too far now. Much of it’s guitar driven, with keys bass and drums and the occasional vocals. But it isn’t necessarily about the ingredients, it’s about the feel, this is one tight unit who aren’t afraid to punch and groove. At the moment despite some complexity it’s relatively taut, lean, and somewhat to the point. But this is their first self produced five track Ep and though it offers so much I want to hear what happens 5 albums down the track when the drugs turn bad and they’re composing 20 minute epics with horns and choirs. Get on board now.
Bob Baker Fish
