Arts & Culture
REVIEW: Enrosadira - In Search of Fresh Water (EP)

By Gig Monkey

Instrumental progressive music is never easy to review. No lyrics means no obvious story or meaning behind the song, it is all rendered more obtuse. However, with some examples, this becomes irrelevant as the music does all the talking. Newbury outfit Enrosadira are most certainly one of these examples. ‘In Search of Fresh Water’ is that rarity (for me) – a progressive record with no words that truly captures the attention and doesn’t drift off into background muzak territory or confusing free-jazz noodling.

It strangely manages to command attention with a habit of constantly changing. Changing riff, key, time signature, feel. This keeps you guessing, focussing on the shifting, swirling soundscape that comes to surround and envelope you. Of course, the very nature of the music means you spend a fair portion of time slack-jawed at the skill of the musicians, the only distraction from the hypnosis of the music. But this is a minor distraction, this is the sort of record that drags you into its space, and seems very reluctant to let you leave.

So, if you feel a blend of Prog-Rock, Jazz, Math Rock and Psychedelia sounds like a party to you, then get yourself a copy of this for it is a sublime listen – and weirdly, they are the best band I have ever heard at finishing a track. Extraordinary endings.