CD Review: Tapebenders' 'Chasing Ghosts'

Tapebenders
Chasing Ghosts
Self-Release

The Milwaukee-based psychedelic rock group, Tapebenders (formerly Elusive Parallelograms), releases an anthology of music previously released on earlier LPs and EPs. The rock music contains a bit of electronica that includes showers of metallic sparks and dreamy sequences that are varied and very deliberate. The concise playing style brings to life the progressive pop side of the music without venturing too far away from psychedelic or rock genres. The gritty "60 MPH" is an instrumental rock gem with vocals resembling Blink 182 and rock riffs not too far away from a punk vein. "Nuclear Man" is another fine electronic tune with big guitars, drums, and keyboards with vocals that are playful and adventurous. The sounds reverberate with spacey electronics and spacious licks. "Absolution" is a rock anthem with fuzzy guitars and psychedelic noises that include a bit of progressive and experimental music that is jingly, memorable, and cinematic. The entire thirteen-track release provides a great picture of what Tapebenders can do. Think of Fractal Cat meets Blink 182 with The Devlins close behind. 5 Stars (out of 5) ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Painted Caves' Self-Titled Arab-American Release

Painted Caves
Painted Caves
Primitive Records

Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based, Painted Caves, presents us with an exciting Arab-American release of guitar fusion and world music on their self-titled release. The group is headed by Ali Lubbad on vocals, guitars, trap set, and Arabic percussion, while Mike Kashou plays the oud, bass, percussion, trumpet, piano, and adds background vocals. There are also other musicians on Native American flute, qanun, congas, didgeridoo, and conch shells. Anyone familiar with Wisconsin music will be familiar with the great Paul Cebar on backup vocals. There is an emotive fusion of instruments that come together to form interesting unions that seem to work just fine. The instrumental arrangements possess a little psych/experimental sound indicative of music from the 1970's in parts of the Middle East and South Asia. The tracks are named as cleverly as anything by Dengue Fever, which provides some influence here; especially on "The Behavior Of A Certain Snake," "Paper Tigers," "Man Is Coy Behind Animal Tears," and "Morse Code." Anyone interested in various traditional instruments played in a contemporary setting will love it. Painted Caves emerges as a great work of art! ~ Matthew Forss