Two years after its proper debut,
Smokin' Granny released
Tarth Shooke, a very different affair even though the most recent tracks off the previous album already indicated a change of direction. The music moves away from the avant-funk realm and more into an ambient progressive rock with
King Crimson sparkles, very close to the
Dark Aether Project. Saxophonist
Todd Barbee is relegated to an ornamental role: Instead of pushing widely dissonant licks, he alternates between cute solos and atmospheric textures on his midi wind controller. Ex-
Volare guitarist Steve Hatch is here a full member of the band. He seems to have brought more focus on his and David Oskardmay's guitars, clearly the leading instruments this time. The music still has its merits, but it requires many listens before any particular tune has a chance to impose itself. There are good moments in "Tarth Shooke," "For Hysterical Porpoises," and "Fuma sin Fuego," but the guys loose themselves in the ambient spirals of improvised numbers like "Tethered Sky...Skewed Wisdom." "Virgin Flight of the Mumbliepies," a mad piece worthy of French TV, compensates for some of the weaker tracks. Luckily,
Brian Preston's bass work remains exemplary -- he is as fun to follow as the great
Percy Jones. No matter the CD's pun title, the Grannies are in danger of loosing their sense of humor and with it their sense of direction.