While improv is Alien Whale’s thing, the New York trio build the songs around insistent, repetitive riffs, solid percussion and throbbing bass forging a sturdy motoric spine to the blistering, blustering solo breaks. The tempo picks up as ‘Astral Projections and Suicidal Thoughts’ progresses, whipping itself to a frenzy of distorted guitar overdrive.
‘Space Boots Foots to Foots’ may have a daft title, but it pursues a heavy prog bent to compelling effect and things get really spaced on the epic ‘Anointus Vanomous Atlanticus’ that comes on like a Krautrock rendition of ‘Silver Machine’ on Ketamine. Strong, but not entirely serious, which comes as a welcome surprise, and carries a degree of focus that drives the songs on with a definite groove. Above all, this rocks. Because improv doesn’t have to be formless meandering.
Alien Whale online
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