Birdsongs of the Mesozoic: Dancing on A'A

On Dancing on A'A, electric and acoustic instruments arrive at fruitful collisions. Birdsongs mix and match idioms like ingredients in the hands of a master chef. Regular beats and samples might bundle up with an exploratory saxophone solo, as on "Readymen." On the title track, quiet collective improvisation eventually sparks a pulsing groove—which, in turn, pins down an anthemic melody with intertwining electric guitar and saxophone lines.

True to the postmodern sensibility, Birdsongs use irony and contrast as primary tools. Unlike Naked City, to which the first track and "Peter Gunn" evoke obvious comparisons, Birdsongs mostly avoid blending clichés... and no single individual takes charge. While each player may be a virtuoso musician in his own right, the magic of Dancing on A'A comes from the overarching (albeit twisted) vision of the group as a whole. This disc deserves attention from listeners with an interest in genre-defying adventurism; stodgy purists are best advised to stay away.