From the ashes of abstract math-rock band DD/MM/YYYY comes the Zappa-referencing Absolutely Free. This self-titled debut from musicians Matt King, Moshe Rozenberg, and Mike Claxton is a milder proposition than the sound of their former band, adding a hypnotic, psychedelic-rock haze and a hint of krautrock to their propulsive compositions: a mix recalling the style of Here We Go Magic. While the music of Absolutely Free less discordant and experimental than the Toronto trio’s previous work, there’s still plenty of layers to get lost in here.
Blessed with well-balanced production from Fucked Up’s Mike Haliechuk, the album delivers controlled chaos as immaculately placed as the art installation elements of the front cover art. Trippy and textured but smooth and accessible, this is the work of nerdy mad scientists who are coolly and confidently in control of their intricate equipment. It’s a sonic experience best taken as a whole, rather than stripped down to individual songs, though the pounding drums and psychedelic swirl of early album tracks Beneath The Air and Striped Light makes for a particularly impressive double-whammy.
BY CHRIS GIRDLER
Best Track: Striped Light
If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Here We Go Magic, Cabibou, Tame Impala
In A Word: Freewheeling
