I just got this CD and man does it sound good... I'm not sure what final tweaks Otso did to it but it sounds rich and fuller than I remember from an earlier CDR version. I did a song by song description in an earlier post, which I won't do again, but this time just jot down some thoughts on the overall effect of the album.
Otso produces music that will appeal to those who like things a little more adventurous and with a sense of humor that is all too rare in EM circles. I hear elements of Emerson, Zappa, Thomas Dolby... all heavily synthed up. What really appeals to me about Otso's work is that you can tell he knows what he's doing... The man has chops... rather than another in the endless stream of "OK let's play on all black keys with our thumbs" albums. This album carries a musical idea along a little farther than some of his previous works where things would jump around pretty fast and I think this is a great improvement. The picture in the liner notes shows Otso dressed in a smock/lab coat pointing at a sort of eye chart with all "E's (I have to point out that he's pointing at the
wrong one... the correct "E" is the 5th row down, 4th "E" over ;-) This is a great pic of Otso, who I've always imagined as a sort of mad scientist anyway! It would be very hard for me to pick out a favorite cut as there are so many cool ones, though I'm finding that I am drawn toward cut 7 "Platonaut" which has some gorgeous piano work. Outstanding. Judging by what I've read of their taste I think Roel, Rothwell and Ship would really find something to sink their collective teeth into here, though I can recommend this one wholeheartedly to all with broad taste in music. Great Job OP!
Poly
Paul Ellis