The Motet flirts with brilliance on ‘Live’
The Motet doesn’t sound that much different from your typical jam band, but what separates them from many bands that claim this moniker is talent. Despite being a group of musicians with undeniable ability, certain chances the band takes go awry.
There is a pretty distinct dichotomy on the band’s experimental new CD “Live”: songs that work out and songs that don’t.
The Motet doesn’t sound that much different from your typical jam band, but what separates them from many bands that claim this moniker is talent. Despite being a group of musicians with undeniable ability, certain chances the band takes go awry.
There is a pretty distinct dichotomy on the band’s experimental new CD “Live”: songs that work out and songs that don’t. The Motet is a hybrid of many different styles. The more jazz and funk oriented journeys lead to a satisfying end, while the more ethnic, drum heavy songs tend to drag and repeat themselves far too often.
“Know Her” grooves along smoothly and works hard to keep progressing during its standout eight minutes and six seconds. However, it is immediately followed by “Sanduga,” which is entirely too long and too Caribbean, even for a jam band. Later, “Aquelle Esquina” does equally little to suck in the audience, yet it lasts five and a half minutes longer.
Just when you think you’ve heard all the band’s tricks by track five, “Foxploration I” comes in with its fast keyboard and drum combo to mix things up.
While the vocals may hold some of the earlier songs together, they only worsen matters on “Rumba Pa los Santos.” Bob Marley utilized this song’s approach to its fullest decades ago, meanwhile the Motet has a few things to learn about it.
In great contrast, “Foxploration II” and “Belly” are both truly stellar and reaffirm the Motet’s aspiration to be at the forefront of this genre.
However, the most memorable track is “The Archer or the Arrow,” a whirlwind of a song that brims over with the band’s best aspects. After hearing this song’s gentle intensity alone, it’s hard to deny the Motet’s talent and easy to forget any of their other troubles.
It’s difficult to imagine myself driving around or just sitting in a room thoroughly enjoying this CD. You really need a party atmosphere or the spectacle of an actual show to experience the Motet properly. Still, for every song that took a wrong turn on this CD, there was an equally energized track that fully redeemed the band. Ultimately, “Live” is a respectable effort from an ambitious band with a bright future.
Rating: 2 stars
