On his first full-length album, former
Tangiers member
Josh Reichmann, as he did on his debut EP
Life Is Legal only a month earlier, seems intent on proving that he is in a new band, not working as a solo artist. Thus,
Josh Reichmann Oracle Band, while clearly led by its namesake, plays dense, involved rock arrangements, and
Reichmann integrates his tenor vocals into them as if his voice is just another instrument. It's an overall sound that this group is after, and it achieves a distinctive one, even though that may sacrifice making a stronger impression for the compositions, which feature somewhat esoteric lyrics, to the extent that they can be understood. Having now established a band identity separate from
Tangiers,
Reichmann may want to think more about developing his songs as songs, and not just as vehicles for ensemble playing. ~ William Ruhlmann