Diversion

Guitar and electric bass, joined by a few horns here and there, and lots of effects. A pastiche of rock-like instrumentals (4, 10, 14), snappy jazz jams (9,24), and strange soundscapes (6,11,23). Happy mood overall; the later tracks are more energetic than the earlier ones. Nice stuff.

Most songs are split into multiple tracks for no apparent reason ("17-22," for example, is one song, with each "verse" given a new track number.) Makes it a bit tough to navigate through the tracks, but it's an enjoyable and varied listen overall.

1,2,3 - Small twangs and burbles; abstract

*4-5- Midtempo guitar riffs, angular twang and a prog-like beat. Mildly psychedelic

6- Distant piano, in snippets of melody

7,8,9 - Eerie soundscape intro, into jazz: midtempo bebop beat

10- Light sci-fi stomp, midtempo
11- Fast, shimmering conclusion to 9 & 10

12-16 - Shimmering guitar chords with a Mexican feel, starts slowish but kicks into gear on 14. Fast electric bass solo on 15.

17-22 - Cool bass solos over rattly, clanky sounds. Horns come in on 20. Playfully slow overall but gets fun & chatty by track 22.

23 - Ghostly, swooping improv, a passing storm

*24-26 - Main theme fast and aggressive; solos more spacious. 25 gets into some searing guitar effects. 26 is a happy jazz shuffle and a Monk quote. More energetic than most tracks here, nice stuff.

27-30 - Mid/fast funky guitar step! Gets into a relaxed Calypso feel.

31- Sound collage: Weird kids' chorus, sound of radio dial turning

32- Gentle, very pretty. Dedicated to South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, but it sways more like a Polynesian island song.