Brand Spankin' New, the prompt follow-up to their 1997 debut release
Cold Spell, finds
Wayne Horvitz & Zony Mash with a tighter sound and slicker production. Once again, this Seattle-based four-piece serve up wide jazzy grooves and catchy instrumental themes, this time with even greater precision.
Horvitz explores new sonic textures utilizing Hammond B-3 organ, Moog and Nord synths, and Wurlitzer electric piano. His mellow sounds float, swell dramatically, and swirl around the rhythm section throughout this wonderfully spacious recording. Present once more are Timothy Young's signature muted bluesy guitar riffs and drummer
Andy Roth's controlled dynamics. The album features a confident, slightly more laid-back sound than their earlier material. The tracks are longer, averaging five to six minutes a piece, yet excellent improvisation and orchestration prevents them from becoming monotonous. However, this album is still very representative of the group's core sound. For the new listener, the twisting theme "Meet the Zony Mash" serves as a great introduction to the
Zony sound. ~ Solar Marquardt