Songbook, Vol. 1

AMG Review of Songbook, Vol. 1

Stephen Howell
All Music Guide

This could possibly be the most violent album Old Time Relijun has delivered. It's minimalist in a lot of senses, yet it's complicated as far as the horns go. De Dionyso makes his saxophone slither like a snake waiting to unleash its venom on an unsuspecting victim during "Manticore," whereas on other songs, such as "Fig," the sax sounds like a foul-mouthed bird chirping at passing worms. The multiple personalities of De Dionyso may make this a scary listen or try the patience of those unfamiliar with the band, but they can also appease the appetites of those searching for something besides standard ock. At times, the guitars expand and contract like rubber ("The Red Sea Anenomae"), while the chord progressions border on normalcy at other moments. Although the music is extreme and has some moments of abstract expression, overall, it is also not as experimental as later material like Uterus and Fire. As for the vocals, they are rushed in the way a dying person may speak if trying to tell a dear friend an important story before passing on to the other side. Of course, this music may already act as a preview to what lies beyond, or at least what might lie ahead for the future of music.