Vishnu Basement

Offering up yet another vantage on experimental rock, Vishnu Basement emphasizes technicality merged with some elements of psych and noise, which ultimately results in what’s best described as a fusion of prog-rock and math rock. With tracks that span up to 9 minutes, the band makes full use of every second by exploring everything from some roaring tremolos that stem from a heavier origin to some really restrained arpeggios that lull the listener into a false calm before exploding back into a bellowing crescendo. - Hissing Lawns

The Strange Machine 12” by Vishnu Basement is finally ready for pre-orders and we couldn’t be happier.

The band cuts all ties to predictability and takes the listener inside an over-stimulated schizophrenic’s brain on acid. They shrink and grow into new spectrums, making it a rocky and quick paced adventure. The listener really has the impression of hopping from canvas to canvas and melting in and out of moving pictures.

Having a huge resemblance to Tera Melos within the band’s crescendos and over all tonality, Vishnu Basement frolic in melodic genre fusing and bend harmonies into absurd discordance. I appreciate that, though the guitar might be the closest thus far to recreating what Melos pulls off, the band plays with their own stories, inspirations, and bring an array of outside touches. With highly skilled musicians such as these, all little pockets of disjunctive ideas have an organic and unforced allure. Having no silly fat groove, the songs are given a chance to match the intensity of sing-along shredding with thoughtful and mature musicianship.

Opening this monster with Future Pangaea, Vishnu Basement first characterizes itself by a strong ska groove, propelling very textural effect slicing. The song has very clean jazz runs that ignite a heavy engine roaring, making a nice transition for the guitar to fall into Nick Reinhart meets Holdsworth soloing. A blend of indie and jazz takes over with a strong and dynamic pattern in 5. The vocals are quiet and really at the back of the track, giving it a Radiohead 15 step vibe with more choral keys to swim in. It sounds like Medeski Martin & Wood on better drugs. The 09:24 minute piece is full of syncopation, huge droning lines, and some of the hottest guitar solos in math rock.

Jakeelis has a less liquid state and is more like a trip inside a giant life-sized clock. We move in a mechanical and gear-like rotation as the track zooms outwards, creating an expanding effect. The lines are disjunctive and noisy really make for great contrasting moments. The funky 70′s fusion tensions are authentic and novel, dispelling all cheese. The video sounding outro has to be my favorite section on this record.

With Panacea, the guitar attains the ambiguity of masters like Thomas Seminar. The track has a misplaced latin jive and a Caribbean undertone, with an almost Father Figure similarity. The bands trademark noisy effects are in full motion, and make this song a true frightening experience. The Sunn O)))like break downs add to the level of intensity and dislocation even more, and end the record by completely engulfing the listener. - SPREAD ZINE