The Vocokesh's string of excellent releases on Strange Attractors continues with
All This and Hieronymus Bosch, 11 instrumentals happily dedicated to exploring that which is sonically strung out and tripping hard. Stalwart Richard Franecki is, as always, the core of seemingly everything, playing a range from guitar to sitar -- showcased very well on "Eddie's Freakout" -- and harmonica. Arguably, lead guitarist John Helwig steals the show on this excellent release, as massive but liquid solos on songs like the opening "Eddie Makes the Scene" (matched at the end of the album with, of course, "Eddie Makes an Exit") and "The Truth Regarding Sunspots" show. (Credit to the band as well for a great ear for perfectly descriptive song titles.) Drummer Rusty takes care of the beats and, with the occasional help of a friend, the trio calls up atmospheres of narcotic haze and burning out under a hot-as-hell sun seemingly without effort. The more overtly epic/structured songs show that the three have hardly lost their knack for drama -- consider the start of "Once More Near the Beginning," with a wicked guitar rampage immediately setting the tone, or the building, stirring conclusion to "Standing in the Ruins," Rusty's drumming getting faster and more frenetic as the guitarists wind up the intensity more as it goes. On the more exploratory bent, "Blue Light Dharma Shuffle" is downright beautiful in its guitar tones, a captivating but far from insipid flow of cascading melodies and drones that ticks along with subtle tension, while the title and penultimate track is as perfect an example of intense-while-stretching-out playing in this field as one could want, with Rusty's work the secret weapon especially as the song draws to a close. ~ Ned Raggett