 "Photo: N/A")
Brasstronaut –
Mt. Chimaera
(Unfamiliar Records; 2010)
7.5/10
Mt. Chimaera, the debut full-length album from the Vancouver-based six-piece Brasstronaut, could not possibly have a more fitting name. Its namesake, the chimera, is a mythological fire-breathing beast that is part lion, serpent and goat. While none of the members are part legendary beast, their music features a mixture of crisp pop, free-flowing jazz, and a touch of electronica.
Mt. Chimaera got its start while the band spent nearly two months in residency at the prestigious Banff Centre for the Arts. Following their stint in Banff, Brasstronaut put the final touches on the production in a number of home studios. The result: an album that defies classification but manages to remain streamlined.
It is really the choice of instrumentation that makes Brasstronaut’s sound distinctly theirs with instruments like the lap steel guitar, the flugelhorn and the EMI, a breath-controlled synthesizer, layered somewhere into the mix of piano, bass, drums, and guitar. Throughout the album Brasstronaut explores each facet of the odder instruments, never pushing them too far but enough to provide a richer sound.
The album opener, “Slow Knots,” begins with the croon of vocalist and keyboardist, Edo Van Breemen over a slow-paced guitar riff and interspersed bursts of a few notes from a variety of instruments. Breemen is soon joined by a quick beat and the song picks up pace with instruments jumping in at full force. It’s a suitable introduction to Brasstronaut. Horns are eventually layered ever so carefully into the mix. They’re never overpowering, but add an extra layer of depth to the track.
“Hearts Trompet” begins with a subtle burst of trumpet before moving into a thick jazz bass line, swelling strings, and blaring horns. Breemen playfully sings along and then the track breaks down into a heavy keyboard and piano section. It’s not exactly a pop song but it never fully shifts into a jazz tune. The fact that it never settles and shifts throughout makes “Hearts Trompet” one of the most infectious and enjoyable tracks of the album.
Mt. Chimaera is a much too short eight track-long exploration of clashing genres and instruments. Brasstronaut is truly a unique blend that is unparalleled. The range of style and sound is so broad you’re bound to find something that catches your ear for at least a moment.
Trial Track: “Lo Hi Hopes”
Be the first to comment on this article!