‘Beneath Discordant Skies’ is next and if there was a highlight of the album, this is it, though it is difficult to pick out any one track from this glorious ear fest. Started by a throbbing drum, over which the steely notes of the guitar enter and set up the prevailing riff which pervades this number, the sax enters, announcing itself in completely discordant notes – the point entirely- and this track then develops into a most satisfying mix of discordia ever put to an audience. The marginally off-tune vocals, that pounding beat, the energy, the vibe, the drama it brings all meld to make this an outstanding track – and it never stops building. As the vocals rise so does the emphasis of the beat. This is almost the perfect noise.
‘They’ll be Here Soon’ ’closes’ the album (but wait) and begins with drums first, then guitar offering an opposing rhythm which takes on the sax as it enters with typical atonal, yet perfectly pitched notes which , though not aligned tune-wise are keyed to tune into those parts of the brain other notes cannot reach. The playing on this track from Ted Milton, I think, offers an insight into his mind and how he feels music. He can pitch the perfect off key notes in such a way they make perfect sense and don’t jar in the way they might in the hands of a lesser player. Honed playing like this is rare and beautiful.
There are 10 tracks listed on the CD cover but there are 4 additional tracks (joy of joy). The first is ‘What’s This Mission All About?’ which is rocky, fast and driven by the rhythm. A journey into the poetic music of Mr Milton. The track comes to an end – so you think – before taking off on a completely different tangent with a change of beat, pace and far more vocals before finishing with an ‘epic’ sax ending.
‘Amour De Ma Vie’ follows and this includes some great guitar solo work and again that steadfast, never ceasing drumming over which the sax flows, disrupts, contradicts the flow of the chords and it all comes together to create wonder and beauty.
‘ The Fish Needs A Bike’ is totally lovely, with a constant walking riff from guitar over steady drum beats with Mr Milton creating merry hell with off the wall vocals, screams and screeches from his voice and sax. ‘Violin Sherbet’, the final track is noisesome, fullsome with sax over simple but driving beats and guitar, fizzing with energy and the beat never ceasing across which the vocals and sax spin, almost out of control but yet carefully moulded around the framework set by the drums and guitar. Sherbet perfectionary.