Mushroom - Analog Hi-Fi Surprise (1999)

• Experimental Rock
• Instrumental Rock
• Jazz-Rock
• Kraut Rock
• Psychedelic

From Aural Innovations #22 (January 2003)

When it came out in 1999, there wasn’t much else on the music scene that sounded anything like Mushroom’s Analog Hi-Fi Surprise. Utilizing the rhythmic structures of modern electronica, but playing music on vintage instruments that combined the groundbreaking jazz styles of Bitches Brew era Miles Davis and Head Hunters era Herbie Hancock with the German kosmische musik explorers like Can and Neu!, Mushroom created a masterwork of freaked out funky fusion and swirling psychedelic space jazz that has, in the few short years since its release, been highly influential in its own right. And although it may be a little bit premature for a re-issue with bonus tracks, I don’t think you’ll hear any Mushroom fans complaining. Certainly not this one!

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For a band that's only been together a short time, space rockers Mushroom are certainly prolific! On its sixth release, the instrumental band mine the depths of Krautrock while pushing the envelope of electronica by using vintage musical equipment in place of state-of-the-art computerized gadgets. "The Magic of Michael" and "October 1970" are trance-missions while "Rackets" hovers more in King Crimson territory thanks to guitarist Dan Olmstead's own brand of "Frippertronics" (the man-made electronic sounds give the song an absolutely contemporary edge). And there seem to be no shortage of clever titles in the 'shroom's bag of tricks: "Our buddy Miles" riffs on keyboards and funk, while "A song of remembrance for a time when wife swapping was considered politically correct" is all about the feedback. (AMg)