Too Many People

INSTRUMENTAL PSYCH-ROCK / JAZZ FUSION

Another winner from this world-influenced Sacramento-based group. The lineup is guitars, keys & synth, bass, drums, and various western & Asian wind instruments. (No vocals this time.) The sound is unconventional, wildly eclectic, and very compelling.

RIYL (from reviews of their other records): Psalters, Balkan Beat Box, Akron/Family.
I would add Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and perhaps Medeski, Martin & Wood.
All instrumental; FCC clean

1 ** mid-tempo. twangy rhythm guitar, thumpy beat, pleasing melody on flute (5:42)
2 * mid-tempo. the Southwestern desert morphs into India. Eastern modality, tabla (3:22)
3 * mid-tempo. tom toms & drone start;. winds join later; it’s mesmerizing & eerie. (4:20)
4 mid-slow. an acoustic guitar and a pedal steel gently weave around each other (1:53)
5 *** fast. high-energy jazzy piece led by tenor sax w/ guitar, bass & drum accompaniment; occasional loud, dissonant interjections; flute joins later with a counter melody (3:20)
6 mid-tempo. humorously pompous with a bouncy beat (3:51)
7 mid-tempo. disturbing, militaristic tone reminds me of Muse’s “Uprising” (5:25)
8 slow. starts very quiet, then grows steadily. it’s somber, even a bit scary (5:03)