GRUVIS MALT: Maximum Unicorn

Gruvis Malt

Maximum Unicorn

© 2005 Integers Only LLC (880270055623)

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Extremely compositional pop music - futurock.

tracks

1 Prelude
2 Thomas Jackson
3 Monster Hands
4 Since 1968
5 Mr. Smith Goes to Heaven
6 The First Train
7 Marco Polo
8 The American Trilogy: Prologue - Method Actors
9 The American Trilogy: Scene 1 - Deadman's Drop
10 The American Trilogy: Scene 2 - Joe Returns From the Front
11 No Rest for the Wicked Awesome
12 Percy

notes

This album is a major departure for Grüvis Malt in many ways. Compositionally, this is the sound of a band giving up. Whereas before every note and inspiration was debated over and eventually abandoned/altered, now anything was acceptable... the more fleeting or amusing the better.
This is probably the closest Grüvis Malt has ever come to honesty. It is a theme album to the fullest (the most "Maximum" you might say), and lends itself to the widest interpretation of any of GM's work.
Production-wise, Gavin tried to take the layered synthetic approach of Traffic Jam and fuse it with the live sound of Simon. To accomplish this, instruments that were usually recorded direct were instead run through amps (keyboards, drum machines, vocals). Acoustic instruments like guitar, bass and drums were treated with plugins rather than rack gear and amplifiers.
The recording process began in June, but after a single weekend, the album was not touched for a full six months while each member of the band focused on other things. Eventually Gavin began production on it and with the help of Brendan and Steve brought it to fruition 10 months later. In that time, one track was lost by Soundmill Studios, and three songs were recorded and added to the track listing. Though one of the shortest GM releases to date, Maximum Unicorn traverses the widest musical terrain.

reviews

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  • an exquisite slice of craziness
    author: Albrecht

    A surreal masterpiece from an extremely accomplished band who deserve to be better known. Gruvis Malt combine gritty jazz/rock/funk riffing with impressively tight production and a Zappa-esque sense of zany humour. Standout tracks: "Thomas Jackson" & "Since 1968"

  • Awesometivity to the third power
    author: Afterthem

    This musicianship on this CD is nothing short of excellent. The band's ability for sudden stops hurling you through short landscapes of troubled thought toward the next disturbance is punctuated nicely by the rhythm section. Anyone who likes King Crimson would love this.

  • great sound
    author: Leesa Peters

    Gave the CD to my brother for xmas, he played it during our family gathering. Great sound! ~Leesa Peters

  • author: LasseM

    A healthy blend of musical insanity; rap, jazz, rock, kletzmer, all mashed together with a string quartet - get a copy and grow

  • unexpectedly catchy w/ a recurring thread of dementia
    author: Wookubus

    The smooth fusion of jazz, funk and metal that Gruvis Malt have been enveloped in for the past decade or so is becoming more refined, and absolutely more eccentric as time goes on. Case in point, their latest album "Maximum Unicorn", a bizarre, seemingly conceptual affair that involves a man beheading a unicorn - complete with animated story panels included within the albums booklet. But as kooky as its lyrical content may be, the insular fusion of funk, jazz and rock that this outing contains is clearly quite talented and takes on many faces as numerous musical avenues are explored. Not surprisingly, a laundry list of instruments are enlisted to this cause; including keys, sax, clarinet, flute, violins, cello and more, with all freely assembled together in an often colorfully dreamy way. While the band may rarely freak out with aggressive shredding, their early Incubus-reminiscent brand of melodies and technical ability is put to good use in the substantial depth that makes up their genre-spanning compositions. A cavalcade of sounds flesh out the poignant instrumentation and witty songwriting, and while unexpectedly catchy, there's a recurring thread of dementia that runs through their music. It is this curious nature that gives it a puzzling, if not psychotic appeal. As with anything conceptual, things can and do get out of hand. There are spoken preludes and a couple of tracks that wind up dragging the momentum into the dirt. Furthermore, the effort is also split into two sides and the storyline is unfortunately a tad confusing overall. Still, as far as most of the songs and musical talent go, Gruvis Malt rarely fail to pique the listeners imagination - even if "Maximum Unicorn" usually finds the band helplessly lost within their own.

  • A Masterpiece.
    author: Joe

    Sounds like nothing else. If I had to describe it? I would say um...Gruvis Maltish. The album is driven by unwaivering confidence in their take on music and solidified by their ability to play absolutely any and every style of music. As a concept album, the message it carries is at the essence of humanity. Nothing short of genius. Amazingly talented. These guys dedicate their lives to this stuff and it shows. They aren't trying to prove anything to anyone. There's just so much here. If you really want something for your brain and soul to digest - Pick this up.

  • Amazingly interesting album.
    author: Buckethead.

    I’ve been a fan of Gruvis malt for awhile now, This CD shows a band evolving, every CD they put out, they seem to add new elements and style. These compositions are very interesting, seem to differ from previous cd's yet the Gruvis sound is still there. I waited for this album for sometime now, and I have to say it was worth the wait. Every song on this CD is amazing and pretty different from each other. This CD is a must...support good music.

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