Drummer/composer
Virgil Moorefield delivered one of his best efforts with
Distractions on the Way to The King's Party. Here he leads a tight nine-piece brass/guitar/drums ensemble playing hot avant prog/funk fusion tunes. Very rhythmical in nature,
Moorefield's music is akin to
Forever Einstein, Boom,
Chainsaw Jazz,
Cartoon, or even
The Muffins, with a pinch of
Glenn Branca in the guitar work (the drummer and some of his musicians have played in
Branca's projects). Contemporary classical techniques are applied to funk rock, complex avant prog motifs are tied to burning brass accompaniment. Highlights include "Noise is the Price We Pay for Signal," the groovy "Funk Trouble," and "Seelisberg," which sounds like
Philharmonie augmented by a brass section. The music often remains very accessible and easy to tap your foot to, even when reaching high levels of complexity. The energy displayed is contagious and turns
Distractions on the Way to The King's Party into a surprisingly danceable avant garde/big band set. Recommended. ~ François Couture