VIRUS

Somewhere between a film score for a crazy sixties spy thriller and progressive metallic funk. That's the best I can come up with for VIRUS' latest album. Perhaps if Dennis Hopper's character in ‘Apocalypse Now’ was moaning his poetic metaphors to a crazed musical backdrop, this would have been the end result. Quite how I can further describe it is sadly limited by my imagination; an attribute that VIRUS have in spades. Songs twist and turn, without ever resorting to faux-cleverness, like Jim Morrison's reanimated corpse, turning a set of mere notes into glorious spacial sonic ambrosia. This is extremely well-written modern jazz/funk played by folk who like their fuzz pedals. The production is absolutely cock-on, allowing every instrumental nuance room to breathe; not to be strangled by a brick-walled radio-geared mix and mastering fuck-up. That's refreshing to hear these days. As such it is very easy to listen to, despite the adventurous nature of the music. It's also difficult to single out tracks for recommendation, as they are all incredibly infectious. However, if you must listen to one track to whet your appetite, then 'Red Desert Sand' is as good a start as any. And really that's it; listen for yourself, tell your friends, and help quality music get the recognition it deserves. That's the best I can come up with for VIRUS' latest album. Perhaps if Dennis Hopper's character in ‘Apocalypse Now’ was moaning his poetic metaphors to a crazed musical backdrop, this would have been the end result. Quite how I can further describe it is sadly limited by my imagination; an attribute that VIRUS have in spades. Songs twist and turn, without ever resorting to faux-cleverness, like Jim Morrison's reanimated corpse, turning a set of mere notes into glorious spacial sonic ambrosia. This is extremely well-written modern jazz/funk played by folk who like their fuzz pedals. The production is absolutely cock-on, allowing every instrumental nuance room to breathe; not to be strangled by a brick-walled radio-geared mix and mastering fuck-up. That's refreshing to hear these days. As such it is very easy to listen to, despite the adventurous nature of the music. It's also difficult to single out tracks for recommendation, as they are all incredibly infectious. However, if you must listen to one track to whet your appetite, then 'Red Desert Sand' is as good a start as any. And really that's it; listen for yourself, tell your friends, and help quality music get the recognition it deserves.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Duplicate Records

Album

THE AGENT THAT SHAPES THE DESERT

Review by Steve Cowan

RUNNING TIME:

43:12

RELEASE DATE:

14th Feb 2011

TRACK LISTING

1) The Agent That Shapes the Desert
2) Continental Drift
3) Chromium Sun
4) Red Desert Sand
5) Intermission:Furnace Creek
6) Dead Cities of Syria
7) Where the Flame Resides
8) Parched Rapids
9) Call of the Tuskers

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Norway

"Somewhere between a film score for a crazy sixties spy thriller and progressive metallic funk."