After I'd gotten over the various comedy sketches that were playing in my head after getting this disc (the Spinal Tap number with the three basses intertwined with the Bad News interview segment with Ade Edmundson claiming that he's written a song called "Imogen" when really its John Lennon's "Imagine"! both priceless, but I digress) Imogene do like their wordplay and are definitely an intriguing proposition.

Its certainly difficult to pigeonhole Imogene as, whilst there are elements of such other recent rock pioneers such as Devin Townsend or Incubus, there's also a lineage that takes you all the way back to the psychadelic overtones of the Doors and Pink Floyd whilst detouring slightly through early 90's stoner rock from the likes of Kyuss or Masters Of Reality, a heady mix indeed!!

Whilst it might seem a bit gimmicky to have two bass players the combination of the eight and four stringers gives the songs a very different feel, with the lines from the eight string having a completely unique tone, the overall effect enhancing the flow and groove of the tunes, giving a more elastic feel than a guitar playing the melodies (although there are tracks that feature guitar as well) there seems a natural place for this seemingly odd combination of instruments within the tracks here, you couldn't imagine the songs done in a more conventional manner.

The loose drums and insistent bass of "Seraphim" all underpinned by some classic hammondesque keyboard lines for example, it could all get a little proggy and loose but instead the bass holds the tune together with its constantly shifting melody and this is repeated throughout the record to great effect.

It does get a little too ambient for its own good sometimes with the occasional track sounding like it would fit in neatly on a Zero Seven or a Morcheeba record ("Dark Room" is the worst offender here with its piano line and looping bass that would definitely earn it a place on one the many chill-out compilations that seemed so ubiquitous about five years ago). But in the main this album proves that experimental rock can actually be allowed to have tunes as well and not have to resort to Tool-like ambient noodling and contrived time changes to make its point, definitely a recommended release and also an intriguing prospect if you can catch them live on any of their remaining UK dates.

Let us know your views on 'Imogene'

Track List

Happy Communing
Paper Dolls
Sunny Day Child
Wormwood Raindrops
Not To Be
Wasteiods
Daath
Seraphim
Tongue And Groove
Dark Room
Slow Dive
Quoth I
 

Line Up

David Melbye - Vocals/Guitar/8 string Bass.
Gabe Cohen - Keyboards.
CJ Cevallos - Bass.
Andy Campanella - Drums