Zolder Ellipsis – “Entropy Override” – [Lizard Records]

Jay Omega   11/3/2022   A Library, CD

Genre blending music from Tom Aldrich. Prog, jazz, jazz fusion, psychedelic, space, avant-garde, metal, modern classical, atmospheric, free jazz, it’s all here. It was supposedly highly influenced by Frank Zappa’s “Civilization: Phaze III”. I can hear the Zappa influence, but this is not Frank Zappa. The longer tracks are more challenging and may require multiple listens to appreciate. The shorter tracks are generally more accessible, though tracks 3 and 5 are fairly avant-garde.

1. Craig Gets Reanimated
   • Prog-Jazz-Fusion. The music is like a cubist painting, switching from one view to another of an underlying musical theme. Challenging, but worth the effort.
2. Zap Gun
   • Prog-metal. A fun track that you can tap your toe to from start to finish. Short (1:33), but long enough to be fulfilling. Play if you want to sample the fringe of the metal domain without summoning any demons. Very accessible.
3. Q+A
   • Avant-garde. Zappa-esque. Drum and keyboard vignette.
4. Imperial Enlightenment
   • Prog-Free Jazz-Modern classical. Fairly abstract. Again, challenging but worth the effort.
5. Magnetic Objects
   • Avant-garde. Short vignette with Keyboard and vocalizations.
6. Android Coronation Ball
   • Prog-jazz fusion. Starts, Ends, and revisits the same ponderous depressing movement. Attempts are made to transcend through a cacophonous maelstrom into upbeat, or even funky grooves, only to plunge back into the dark chaos. Challenging, but worth the effort.
7. The Antidote Game
   • Again, multi-faceted. Atmospheric, avant-garde, Psychedelic, free-jazz, fusion, space. There’s even, in my opinion, an homage to Mahavishnu Orchestra.
8. In The Hole
   • It’s the savasana yoga track that will restore your mind after completing the technical challenges of this album. If none of the other tracks float your boat, then this track is for you.