Autotomii…

Yes!  The school year is winding down, and I am almost done with classes.  The summer will hopefully allow for a lot more music to happen in my life.  I can’t wait.

This week, I want to talk about a band that I’ve mentioned many times, but never fully elaborated on… Autotomii.

Autotomii has been playing their own unique take on instrumental music for quite a few months now.  They are a five piece: two electric guitars, drums, bass, and saxophone.  Also, one of the guitar players and the bass player switch off and play keyboard on a few of the songs.

They have been playing a lot of shows in the recent months.  That and recording their songs has made them much tighter as a band.  Each part of each song seems to flow really well, and each member has really found the sound that he wants to contribute to the band.

It’s good to hear a band like this.  It really reminds you of the commitment that it takes to write instrumental music.  There is so much freedom in the writing process, and  that can sometimes lead one to aimlessly stray and never find a coherent idea.  But you can really tell that Autotomii has found the idea that they want to communicate.

I’m going to try to describe the music now.  Each song has a sort of jazzy feel to it, but they are not a jazz band in any traditional sense.  Its more like a jazz rock fusion, but don’t go thinking this is straight up funk rock.  It’s not that way at all.  The guitars do take some time for solos, but they limit and space them out well so as not to turn it into a display of public masturbation.  There is always a focus on flow in the music.  Flow, and progression from one feel/style to another.  They can be playing heavy, attacking power chords at one moment and then, after a smooth transition, switch to densely layered and delayed space rock.  I don’t know what I just said.  Check out this video and see for yourself:

So if you have not yet checked out this band live, you are missing out.  Autotomii is playing a show on Thursday, May 20th with Move Lafitte and Birdfight.  I know, this is in a long time, but I figured this would be a good chance to let you know.  This show is happening at the Maison Musique on Frenchmen.  Do it!

That’s about all I’ve got for today.  Enjoy the weather before it gets too hot, and don’t let me catch you skinny dipping in my pool.  Damn kids…

~ by aemarse on April 28, 2010.