A Hamster Speaks

Alternating a youthful, three-horn jazz attack with abstract improv that's dark but playful. The jazzy songs have an accessible approach with some growly/buzzy horn moments. The avant-garde stuff is daringly quiet and slow; it might not catch radio listeners' ears but it's good to hear these guys display that side of their playing. The cover art features a secret-agent hamster using a laser-eye gizmo to defeat a robot snake, how cool is that! Bonus: Two track with actual words! FCC clean.

A Brooklyn group, led by bassist Aryeh Kobrinsky, who's a product of Winnipeg and Fargo, of all places. Full band:
Aryeh Kobrinsky (bass)
Jacob Wick (trumpet)
Evan Smith (tenor sax)
Adam Dotson (euphonium (think: trombone))
Jason Nazary (drums)

1- Mid-fast with bubbling bass. Nice.
2- Slow but tough pulsing, not mellow or wimpy. Gets cooking a bit later.
3- Weird slow *song*, stumbling and breathy, with a mildly bopping trumpet solo.
4- Gloomy improv, a patient track with spare drums driving what's actually a brisk pace.
5- Catchy bass pulse, slowish feel. Some horn chaos. Dirgy theme near the end, with wacky sax soloing.
6- Big stomping march. Sneaky middle with quiet spots.
7- Evil sparse improv with echoey spoken-word eerieness. A dark place; innovative and theatrical.
8- Quiet bass solo. Scratchy; makes a good intro to (9) but isn't necessary
9- Energetic, but relatively calm after an initial burst. Bass solo, then a fun accelerating theme.
10- Dark mystery improv: Bubbly, abstract, and sound-oriented. Hoarse trumpet, then jungle-like squawks and heavy drums. Sound-oriented and beatless.
11- Blared horn tones in an edgy mystical/tribal chant mode. Hard drums and cool twisty soloing.
12- Quiet hoarse whispers