KWJAZ create drones containing delicious morsels of pop tunes. Two long (over twenty minute) tracks take up this utterly unusual creation. Merging genres so divergent creates a sense of naïve wonder while one goes through the album. A few of these melodies will get stuck in your head as they are positively infectious. Let them do their work.
While I listened to each side, enjoying the drones, out of nowhere the pop structures would appear. Sometimes KWJAZ introduced pieces of the pop songs ahead of time, allowing for aspects of the pop song rhythm or beat to bleed through the deep sounds. On side one, “Once in Babylon” uses this technique far more often than side two “Frighteous Wane”, which generally shocks the listener with its inclusion. I’m reminded of a more far-out version of Rangers at times. Things get that AM-pop friendly on here, right down to a flute at times, through the drones and experimentation keeps the entire album in a constant state of flux.
I enjoyed the cyclical nature of the album. After you have finished the album, you begin to notice the intention themes and sounds KWJAZ employed. The second track flows into the first much like the first flows into the second. A feedback loop exists to make this all possible. KWJAZ’s own insistence on using deliberate recording methods (things get extremely lo-fi on this album) only reinforces this perception.
Really though this is unclassifiable. My closest guess would be hypnagogic pop but that’s merely a guess. The amorphous nature of the sound and its appealing pop sensibility make it relaxed, enjoyable 40-odd minute trip.
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