WD-41: WD-41

Having played with the likes of Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, Mike Keneally, Jerry Marotta, and many others, guitarist Willie Oteri has quite an extensive resume and is back with a new project entitled WD-41. He is joined by Dave Laczko (trumpet, effects) and the result is truly bizarre. This is not for the faint of heart and if you like accessible music you should definitely proceed with caution. The duo mixes elements of RIO, experimental jazz, avant-garde progressive, and a healthy dose of improvisation to create an album that surely takes time to settle. As I write this review I am not sure it has, but somehow I found it strangely compelling the more I listened to it. Indeed, WD-41 is a perfect example of strangeness taken to a another level.

The songs combine effects, loops, and a plethora of experimental guitar and trumpet sounds creating a nightmarish soundscape of atmospheric textures and layer upon layer of unearthly sounds. This is not an easy record to describe to say the least. There is an element of Eastern sounds in the psychedelic "H-3", filled with strange sound effects and layers of eerie trumpet work making this a good choice to play at Halloween to frighten the kiddies. Of course, one could just play the whole album to achieve the same affect!

Two of the albums longest songs include the bizarre "G-9", starting with dissonant guitar notes but heading towards jazzy runs and sharp bursts of metallic riffs and "C-1", containing ambient textures, a sort of softer dissonance, if that makes any sense. The repeating mellow guitar loop is pretty melodic, as compared to the rest of the material, making this the album's best song in my opinion.

So if strangeness is what you seek, look no further than WD-41. For everyone else, if you are looking to broaden your horizons and stepping out of your comfort zone, click on the website link and listen to some samples. As for me, I am not sure how much I will reach for this CD but when the mood arises for something a little different, WD-41 will surely satisfy that craving.

Track Listing:
1. J-2 (2:18)
2. H-1 (4:53)
3. H-2 (Interlude) (1:40)
4. H-3 (8:38)
5. G-9 (11:23)
6. C-1 (11:25)
7. J-1 (4:51)
8. I-13 (solo) 4:29

Added: August 25th 2009
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 2309
Language: english

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