The follow-up to their Technicolor eponymous debut,
Deleted Scenes further showcases
Once & Future Band's skill at combining technical virtuosity across several rock styles with their knack for catchy rhythms and classic pop hooks. Corralling inspirations that include
Pink Floyd,
E.L.O., and
Steely Dan, just for starters, the album offers up nine varied tracks, four of which are instrumentals of a tight, tuneful nature. Hummable enough that passive listeners may not even notice that it's non-vocal, one such track is "Several Bullets in My Head," which evokes the particular jazzy, martini-lounge sound prevalent in composer soundtracks of the '60s and '70s, while remaining rooted in rock. The song's melody moves seamlessly between organ, piano, guitar, and mallet percussion as the rhythm section lays down a soft funk groove. Another instrumental, "Mr. G," takes a more improvisatory, jazz-rock-styled approach, and
Deleted Scenes' nine-minute closer, "The End of the Beginning," plays out almost like exit music, bringing multiple styles together in dramatic fashion. Elsewhere, the songs paint melodies with thick brush strokes, such as on the lonely-hearted "Andromeda," a theatrical, key-shifting entry that also establishes the record's trippy production touches. Later, the bouncy ditty "Freaks" highlights horns and vocal harmonies as it delves into
Beatlesque psych-pop. Throughout, playful detailing including effects breathes even more life into already-vibrant creations. The trio -- singer/keyboardist/guitarist Joel Robinow, bassist/guitarist Eli Eckert, and drummer/technician Raj Ojha -- who had played together in various incarnations in the Bay Area before forming
Once & Future Band, not only sound like a veteran arena combo here but offer the material to make them shine. ~ Marcy Donelson