Chaudhary, Amanda – “January Suborbital Denomination” – [CatSynth Records]

murdock   8/30/2024   A Library, CD

The Bay Area’s own Amanda Chaudhary returns with another album from her Meow Meow Band. Her multi talented skills and artistic vision shine through as she spins a musical web of sounds joined by a legendary cast of artists including folks from Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time Band, and musicians that have worked with John Zorn, Tom Waits and the Residents.

This album is quirky and uplifting. With a full spectrum that covers jazz, electronic space sounds, and almost psychedelic waves in a few places, there is something for everyone here. Rambutan has a funky island vibe to it (it’s a fruit from Southeast Asia after all). There are even some soul selections (National Chocolate Oat Milk Day, or Kislev, both with vocals by Sami Stevens) that could easily find a home on Soul Patrol. Ghanaplasticity is a dive into a robotic free jazz landscape with 80’s sci-fi space ships and lasers and even some singing bowls. Endotheric Basin reminds me of an out of body experience. Taconic Parkway Bridge is an electronic melange that reminds of Tubular Bells, without the accompanying Exorcism. Mister Brushies is an ode to what I suspect is a cat (she does like cat’s after all), with a 1940’s cartoon style to it, even with some tap dancing.

Now, here is the thing, and it might just be my own lacking knowledge. On first listen, I thought it was all too polished and contrived sounding, with perfect production, every note hit just right. What happens when a bunch of perfect technically adept musicians get together. It was not until I read about her process and approach that I was able to listen again, and then a few more times, as the musical expanse opened up to me. A good example of the more you know, the more you can appreciate some fine art, or in this case incredibly skilled musicians and artists coming together to make something great. And the more I listened, and the more I read up about her background and approach, the more I like it.

Overall this is a fun album, and I’m looking forward to hearing more from her, as well as exploring the other album we have in the library. And if she happens to do a live show, I think it would be pretty amazing to experience. Put this on and start dancing.