The Octopus Project
Hexadecagon
Peek-A-Boo Records (2010)
why you'll love it: Adventurous upbeat instrumentals
why you'll hate it: Not much more than just background music.
Phew, one more good album left in the year. I was afraid for a moment I would have to dig out a stinker to fill in the last review of 2010. The Octopus Project is an instrumental band. Usually they lean on a very positive upbeat, almost video-gamey keyboard to set themselves apart. This time they throw their range out a lot more. There is a tinge of post rock on this album. I think that is mostly a consequence of their broad experimentation.
Hexadecegon is as ambitious as the title suggests, although it never feels like the group is up their own ass. There is a general feeling of adventurous exploration to keep in line with their general positive mood. At times, this album sounds like it could have been the soundtrack to something like the Spike Jonze Where The Wild Things Are film adaptation. This album isn't unique by any means, but it isn't derivative either. The problem is there are bands that have changed the landscape by making music similar to this;. By comparison, The Octopus Project may seem like small potatoes; but they are much too colorful and expressive to be given that kind of treatment.
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