With some band members formerly of Deerhoof, one from Xiu Xiu, and a drummer who’s played with John Zorn, Tom Waits, and Fred Frith, such a pedigree carries high expectations for 7 Year Rabbit Cycle’s third album. Too bad, then, that it falls a little short. There are some fine moments, but too frequently their ideas seem to lack vitality and inspiration.
Some of the nicer sections include the untitled opener, with its hauntingly spacious vibes, as well as the eerie lengthy instrumental beginning “Magic Yam Part 2.” I also enjoy the bursts of dissonant rock that often show up unexpectedly on songs like “Pirate” and “Ciabatta,” and I wish those moments were more frequent.
Much of the album has a slow pace, which isn’t a bad thing in itself, but many of the songs have too many dramatic pauses and gaps, as if the group is playing under the weight of some transcendental state that unfortunately doesn’t translate well to this recording. There are places where the instruments are playing in different time signatures, making the moments when they hit together that much more meaningful, like on “Puppies,” but often these sections drag on after the catharsis has passed, diluting their impact. And some of the songs, particularly “1234,” just seem to plod on far too long.
I appreciate the group’s unconventional song structures and the chances they take with such unusual dynamics, but I couldn’t help but feel that the results are a little disappointing.
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