(Lexicon Devil)

Stoner-rock supergroup launch into the stratosphere.

Gary Arce, Bill Stinson, Scott Reeder and Mario Lalli. These four names may not be instantly familiar to most, between them they have the combined experience of bands ranging from Yamning Man to Ten East, Kyuss and Across The River. And while these bands may hint at the direction of Soft Monsters (stoner-rock mixed with psychedelia and post-rock), the forty minutes of instrumentals contained herein stand alone in their broad repertoire. Denser than a mangrove swamp, more intricate than a calculus crossword, this acid-fried quartet will be a joyful listening experience for those who don’t need lyrics to tell them how to feel. Although the bulk of the songs were written predominantly by Arce and Stinson, you definitely get the feeling that this was an entire band’s attempt at something altogether more experimental and cerebral than previous efforts. And, as with all the best cosmic post-rock, the album retains a strong sense of melody that will warrant repeated listening, to pick up on more sonic elements as you progress. I’m going on my fifth listen in 24 hours, and it’s still no less absorbing.

MITCH ALEXANDER

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