Incognito - Brother Mosley
Jon Sumber
2004-02-26
self-released
Boston's Brother Mosley just wanna have fun. Or, at least that's what their
auspicious debut Incognito strenuously implies. This is a record
that goes straight to your rump and induces it to shaking, with or without
your consent. Remember the classic arcade game "Off Road," where you race
around a dirt track, repeatedly smacking that "nitro" button?
Incognito keeps a rare momentum with consecutive doses of their own
bluesy, infectious nitros.
Catchy and lighthearted tunes like "Highway Song" and "Chester" may be
tinged with Allman-esque melodies, but this is not your standard excursion
of orgasm-faced Warren Haynes solos (though lead guitarist/vocalist Jamie
Hannon can certainly hold his own). We're talking about a good
old-fashioned party band, where concise, fun-in-the-sun melodies offer
smooth runways into open-ended exploration. "(The Incredible) Jimmy" is
bound to be a set highlight if Brother Mosley can tap into all the potential
in its canvas. Equally impressive are the weaving compositions that
introduce "Red Hook," a whimsical 11-minute reminder of the days when Phish
had Big Ideas.
BroMo clearly shies away from dance music fetishes or space-rock density in
favor of embracing the classic rock roots that sired this whole darn jamband
scene in the first place. The sole cut which flirts with a greasy white-boy
funk is the tantalizing "Licorice," an unusually brief instrumental taste of
a bigger jam. This track seems to be a worm on the hook, hinting at what
might be in store at a live BroMo show. The nature of improvisational music
makes it difficult for any band to record a definitive jam, so the Brothers
simply fade out and invite you to join them for the rest at a theatre near
you.
Equal parts jam-pop and bluegrass barbecue, Incognito is the kind of
disc you'll want in rotation when the weather warms up and the windows roll
down.
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