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Johnny Unicorn Group — Spirit of the Channel
(Bandcamp no#, 2024, DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2024-10-14

Spirit of the Channel Cover art

Spirit of the Channel marks the recorded debut of the Johnny Unicorn Group, though this assemblage of musicians has been working together for a number of years. I think the new name indicates the increased contributions of the others to the music. Naomi Adele Smith plays keyboards and sings, while Chris Barrios plays drums and guitar; Johnny Unicorn himself sings most of the lead vocals and plays keyboards, guitar, bass, and saxophone. There are guests here and there for violin and additional guitar. The songs for the most part are ones originally written back in the 90s but never completed at the time. With arranging help as well as some extra sections contributed by Smith and Barrios, they have taken the form we now hear. I’ve been listening to this album frequently since I got it, and trying to think of how to describe my ideas about how good it is. The previous Johnny Unicorn albums have all been good (reference Heavy Jugs to the Moon from 2017), but I have to say this is the best one yet. I’m going to put that down to three factors: 1. He’s been making music for a long time now, and is continually learning how to do it better; 2. These songs were written a long time ago, and were selected for revival because they had merit — it’s a sort of “best of” compilation for material from that era; 3. The skill, creativity, and influence of his bandmates, who have taken his ideas and elevated them, taking them places he might not have gone on his own. The songs on Spirit of the Channel range from warped punk angst to complex polyphonic avant-progressive, veering from section to section like a drunken spider running across a floor scattered with obstacles. But nothing feels forced or contrived — they’ve integrated all of the elements into a cohesive statement that is fascinating on both emotional and intellectual levels. It’s supremely entertaining, without a single lag in the cleverness and fun from front to back. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Johnny Unicorn

More info
http://johnnyunicorngroup.bandcamp.com/album/spirit-of-the-channel

 

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