Released: 2024
Genres: Jazz Rock, Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Jazz Fusion, Latin Rock
The Musiquarium’s The New Sound Review Score: 10 out of 10
Leaning further into the jazziness of black midi’s last two albums, like a twisted, Zappafied Steely Dan, The New Sound finds Geordie Greep at the height of his powers, on this explosive solo debut, which is chock full of impeccable musicianship.
Contrary to its title, Blues is not a blues track at all, but instead a reality check for the song’s pathetic protagonist — the music here is absolutely ridiculous, with the type of jazz-fuelled complexity that Frank Zappa would have welcomed with open arms. Terra is the type of smooth jazz that Steely Dan perfected in the seventies, though more deranged.
The mad Holy, Holy could probably even make a paraplegic walk again. The title track is the sole instrumental on the album, letting Geordie Greep rest his voice for a few minutes. Walk Up allows some breathing room, until its crazier second half. Bongo Season (the shortest track on the album) is a percussive heavy jam. Motorbike features black midi’s touring member Seth Evans on vocals and sounds like it could have fit on one of that band’s last two albums.
As If Waltz is about a hopeless romantic, looking for love in all the wrong places, with all the wrong women. Never before have musings about prostitutes seemed so passionate. vulnerable and full of desire. The music itself is as fiery as the S.T.I.s that the narrator encounters — it’s almost like a Disney song for the depraved.
The 12 and a half minute-long The Magician, is the longest track on the album, and one of the most theatrical songs here. If You Are But a Dream ends the album like a dreamy show tune from a Broadway musical, with the red velvet curtains about to close.
The New Sound is a perfect continuation of what black midi spent three albums doing, with one of the most precise, expertly-crafted albums in recent memory. A phenomenal record, with some of the best musicianship I’ve heard in a long time.
For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Geordie Greep on Discogs.
Back to the 2024 Album Guide or the Geordie Greep Reviews page.
Written by Brett Nippard
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