Unconscious Collective are Gregg Prickett (Guitar ), Aaron Gonzalez (Bass guitar and Upright bass), and Stefan Gonzalez (Drums and Vibraphone), and this trio play an eclectic blend of avant-garde jazz, metal, and progressive rock on their brand new self-titled seven song CD. Though I know next to nothing about Tofu Carnage Records (based out of Dallas), they apparently specialize in the DIY, the bizarre, and the sublime, which this release fits right into that framework. It's all instrumental, at times tranquil and jazzy, and others quite chaotic and noisy. Tunes like "Cis-Lunar Bloudburst" and "Molesting Electric Walter" burst with plenty of metallic prog bombast, complete with loud riffs and scorching lead guitar like a meeting of King Crimson & The Mahavishnu Orchestra, while "Gemini Croquet" and "Tranquiladora Alborotadora" go in a lighter, jazzier direction. Some of the guitar & vibe passages on "Funerlais Pachydermis" veer off into free-jazz territory, while the haunting menace of "Ink Portraits in the Key of Cephalopod" evokes the early days of Tangerine Dream minus the keyboards. Closer "Peneteka" comes the closest to instrumental stoner metal on the album, with plenty of beefy, pulverizing riffs and pounding drums to satisfy anyone into all things heavy.
This is an intriguing listen for those with an adventurous ear. Proceed with caution if structure and melody are important to you, but should you be drawn to the avant-garde and chaotic there's a lot to like here.
Track Listing
1) Gemini Croquet
2) Tranquiladora Alborotadora
3) Cis-Lunar Cloudburst
4) Molesting Electric Walter
5) Funerlais Pachydermis
6) Ink Portraits in the Key of Cephalopod
7) Peneteka
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