OCTOPUS BROTHEL
CAVE PAINTINGS
http://octopusbrothel.bandcamp.com/album/cave-paintings
Being independently published myself, it's unfortunate that I'm not more often compelled to be proud of the company that puts me in. Admittedly, self-published work is not always the zenith of quality or thought-provoking production, but when an individual or a group manages to succeed in publishing something in not just a classy manner, but also in a way that lets you truly focus on the material rather than just the overlooked hiccups of the production, then it deserves your attention.
Especially CAVE PAINTINGS, Octopus Brothel's sharp-sounding debut release, which features a short list of tracks but displays a large range of ability. Despite a laundry list of setbacks in the last year, Octopus Brothel, a four-piece psychedelic rock band based out of Hollywood, has managed to put together a surprisingly solid album. The strength of Cave is its diversity of sound and its maturity of vision. While many debut albums tend to be a smattering of songs with no definitive foundation to rest upon, Cave maintains a consistent mood and standard throughout its six tracks without becoming stale. Although it might be a comparison the band itself would gaff at, I'm reminded of Incubus's debut album S.C.I.E.N.C.E. and its effortless range of musical styles. The difference here is that Cave is not so schizophrenic as S.C.I.E.N.C.E., which allows the album to be eminently listenable.
Most of the songs are hypnotic, but brutally so, providing a compelling energy that most psychedelic rock lacks. Standout tracks are "Felipe", a dark sideshow-ambient tune with a burning guitar clawing at its edges, "Eternity", a druggy/angry/arena-like meditative track that transitions the album into more serious waters, and "Butterfly Funeral", the most addictive track of the album, which is a cryptic and infectious blend of brooding sounds. The final track, "On the Verge of Madness", is a rewarding finish that proves, by album's end, that Octopus Brothel is not done growing.
One critique of the album is the overuse of distortion on the vocals, which in some cases might have been more gripping and immediate if allowed to be less echo-laden. In spite of that setback, the vocals do add a great deal to this album, and this is possibly why the use of distortion across consecutive tracks can be more frustrating than harmonious.
CAVE PAINTINGS is a definite success on the whole, and its pacing, thoughtfulness and ability will keep you coming back for multiple listens.
STB
