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K'mono — Mind out of Mind
(Bandcamp no#, 2023, DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2024-02-05

Mind out of Mind Cover art

K’mono is a Minneapolis band that produces a kind of rock that could be called progressive but doesn’t fit into the historical context of prog rock. In this way, they’re similar to such groups as Bear Ghost, Sunset Mission, Dizzy Mystics, and Closure in Moscow. These are groups that generally don’t indulge in lengthy multipart suites or vintage keyboard sounds (though there is a thread of hipster-cool attached to Mellotron and Chamberlin). They could be regarded as following on from 80s indie rock, generally without the grunge aspect, bringing in bits of math rock, and not shying away from poppish sounds like funk and soul. Mind out of Mind is K’mono’s second full-length album, and it shows a band with a clear identity, though not one based on having every song sound similar. One of the most prominent qualities of the music is the strong vocals, both in lead parts and in backing arrangements. Jeffrey Carlson and Chad Fjerstad are credited with the singing, though I’m not sure about the division of responsibilities. The two also share keyboard duties, while Carlson plays guitar and Fjerstad bass. Drummer Timothy Java doesn’t sing or play keyboards, but his rhythmic skill is key to the music’s success. The lead vocals sometimes remind me of Starcastle (to pull out an obscure reference) and the guitar-keyboard interplay has a bit in common with Rundgren’s Utopia during their more proggy era, though in general K’mono doesn’t sound like either of those. Mind out of Mind is just a really fine album, and any comparison or analysis is of less importance than the quality of the songwriting and performance.

Filed under: New releases, 2023 releases

Related artist(s): K'mono

More info
http://kmono.bandcamp.com/album/mind-out-of-mind

 

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