How many modern-day
prog
bands can say that pianist
Julee Cruise
and
Kate Pierson
of
the B-52's
have appeared on their albums? Not many -- but
Time of Orchids
is not your average, ordinary band. Hailing from New York, this four piece hasn't been afraid to challenge listeners thus far, so why stop a good thing with their sixth release overall, 2007's
Namesake Caution
? Once more, you get a potpourri of jaggedly disjointed tunes that may prove to be too hard to digest for some, but isn't that the whole point? Standouts include the
Syd Barrett
-era
Pink Floyd
sounds of
"In Color Captivating,"
the vintage
Shudder to Think
-esque
"Windswept Spectacle,"
as well as
jazz
-
that bears more than a passing resemblance to early-'70s
Frank Zappa
on
"Gem."
With most
-y bands of the early 21st century going the
metal
route,
is one of the few bands that specializes in "tricky bits" while not forfeiting melody/harmony, and not relying on distortion pedals and detours into
Slayer
territory. ~ Greg Prato