Motihari Brigade have been icing fire and flame throwing ice for a while now. Their Orwellian lyricism, swinging composition and not-so-sunny disposition about this world on fire has earned them places in indie rock playlists throughout the years. This is their second album, Algorithm and Blues. With blues based rock and tips to bring down the Machine, their songs have a guarantee to rock you out of your misery.
The title track does justice to the extolments rained upon above. With trumpets, sax and a great blues riff, their opening song encapsulates their idea with a musical frisson that many are afraid to delve into. The groove is embedded into the rhythm, the instrumentals can whip up a tempo, even acoustically for that matter. Reality Show is their second track, with a lateral shift in sound. The reggae incursion is welcome, and makes this an enjoyable affair. Acerbic truths of mass media is satirized with a simple cyclic rhythm and beat. What more would you need?
Dancing to the groove
Shifting back to a blues rock sound, The Party Is Over comes next. Active sound changes keep the song interesting, vocals and instrumentals work in counterpoise to really draw the listener in. Tones for the instruments are balanced with a warm texture, it doesn’t steal the show nor recede into the limelight. Their next track was a popular single, Rock-n-Roll Thoughtcrime. With a swing powered chorus and intrusive lyrics, the instrumentals and vocals add flourishes to this track wherever possible. Motihari Brigade know how to keep the drama ensuing in their music-what you witness is engraved in your mind.
Identity Theft rolls to a slow blues with a narrative. Lyrics shine light on such classics as 1984, and the powerful distraction of the evils in identity and crime. Elements far too common are tailored neatly into the verses, while the instruments do their duty in keeping it saucy. Motihari Brigade do their due diligence to one of their heroes, The Rolling Stones. This cover of Street Fighting Man has the quality impact and energy of the original, with their own little gold dust in the track.
Be Free has a soft rock spine that really helps in altering the album’s lineament. With quirky licks and jumps, the track focuses on simple instrumental sections and soft vocals with directional lyrics that inspire. Guitar tones altering for the sections make this track an interesting collage of sound. Minefields and Downfalls continues this softer section of the album, with an elastic, sweet riff that reminds us sonically of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Motihari Brigade remind themselves to really spread out their sound in terms of impact and influence.
Return to the swingin’ blues
Disintegration Blues is next on the roster, making unique chord progressions and funky rhythm work to make another crowd favourite. The returning style riff makes it a simple background, adept in keeping with the catchy chorus. We Are the Germs alters the vocals to get a Chipmunk like sound. Though the lyrics are discernable, you’ve to really dig into the track to hear it. The guitars do clash with them at moments, but the fun doesn’t stop. The chunky sound adds to the chorus sections and make this a song with a whole different cannon around it.
Thought fodder
Too Big to Fail breaks the image of the corporations and dummy faces that have been given strings to the puppet for years. It preaches about the flip side (the only side, really) of having aspects of life completely dominated by an assertive figment. The group really needs a hats off making these tracks so catchy and interesting, blending elements stylistically that make it seem like a perfect whole.
Revolution Rock takes a whole new path, away from The Clash’s track of the same name. The blues core is still very present, creating their own descending riff with a memorable chorus. The flanged guitar sound especially stands out in moments, apart from other vocal highlights. Closing with Morningstar, the soft rock track brings in their cutting songwriting to a forked road, taking a whole new sound to explore. It is a fitting close to what is a collection of some of their best work, attempts at amalgamating a world’s image through music.
In effect, the result is a complete, satisfying album with a myriad of sounds, structures and styles. Their signature sax sound with blues guitar and chiming vocals are present everywhere, but in quality degree. Nothing is forced, the organic flow allows the album to be appreciated as is.
Listen to their album here:
Check out our playlists here!
Discovered via http://musosoup.com
Self professed metalhead, moderately well read. If the music has soul, it's whole to me. The fact that my bio could have ended on a rhyme and doesn't should tell you a lot about my personality.
