New Monsoon

CDs of the Week/PauseRecord.com
By da Flower Punk
Week of March 11-23, 2003

NEW MONSOON, "DOWNSTREAM" (Monsoon Music) - New Monsoon skillfully, if subtly, weaves Indian musical ideas with its fascinating jam rock. It does so in part by integrating the tabla drums of Raj Parikh into the mix of three percussionists. The three make all of its music swing in polyrhythmic waves. Parikh will also add ghatham (another Indian drum) and other hand drums to the blend created by Brian Carey's congas, timbales and other percussive toys, while Marty Ylitalo's drums are solid without overpowering his compatriots in the rhythm section. Such a bottom end, aided and abetted by Heath Carlisle on bass, makes a strong case for dancing even before you add the stringed instruments and keyboards into the mix. But then they kick in: Jeff Miller's electric guitar, Bo Carper's acoustic guitar or banjo, and Phil Ferlino's keys into the blend, and this stuff starts really happening. There is a distinctly psychedelic feel to their syntheses, although again subtly so, as they travel through spaces opened by roots rock, Southern things, ethnic music, funky jam and more. The same can be said of the words and the voices. When the band sings of a place where "tomorrow never knows" they are clearly quoting the Beatles, but they have experienced and internalized the feelings that lead one to that place. Featuring strong harmonies, and a particularly compelling lead vocalist in Carlisle, as well as strong (even if at times overly optimistic) lyrics, New Monsoon is as much a pleasure to listen to during their vocal tracks as their instrumentals, something far too few jam rockers can say. A very solid record from what may just be the breakout band of the year.