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City Weezle — No. 2
(Bandcamp no#, 2021, DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2022-03-24

No. 2 Cover art

City Weezle’s second album is a strong entry into the stream of music that was pioneered by Frank Zappa, Cardiacs, and Mr Bungle. This is insanely precise music that jumps from style to style like a squirrel on amphetamines jumping from one fencepost to another, and the fact that it was produced by band members scattered across the globe is quite impressive. Given the references mentioned, it should be no surprise that there’s an element of humor present. The album starts with “Captain Introspective,” which starts with a dreamy piano backed by bells and something sounding vaguely like strings, but then jumps into a riff with electric guitar, bass, and drums. The vocal section switches abruptly to a sort of heavy metal march in shifting meters. The vocals are quite eccentric and in-your-face, with demented affectations and numerous backing parts doing everything from death growls to falsetto doo-wop. Different sections of the song change tempo with no warning, and the listener is on notice: this is no ordinary rock record — or any other genre for that matter. Simon Fleury is a singer who is constantly playing roles, from pompous Dickensian upper-crusters to helium-like choruses of commentators to classic rock screaming. Anything is on the table, so a chugging metal riff can give way to a pipe organ with spoken Latin and a choir, and a waltz with a harpsichord can transition into old rock ‘n’ roll. “Maestro Mafioso” starts with a mandolin and accordion doing an approximation of an Italian folk song, then the band comes in for a fast rock section, but that doesn’t last long, because an oom-pah-pah music hall singalong is on the way. It’s hyperactive, wildly imaginative music for split personalities, all performed impeccably by Fleury (vocals, guitar, banjo), Kengo Mochizuki (bass), Axel Steinbiss (keyboards), and Ai Uchida (drums), along with several guests on various tracks. Prog fans can revel in “Crimson Jig,” an instrumental which translates some King Crimson moves into a different context, with banjo in the mix. It’s all quite insane musically, in the best possible way, and I can heartily recommend it to anyone who counts Cardiacs and Mr Bungle among their likes.

Filed under: New releases, 2021 releases

Related artist(s): City Weezle

More info
http://cityweezle.bandcamp.com/album/no-2

 

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