Guapo

Much like Magma, Can and Gong — all of which are but a footnote nowadays in the greater prog rock world — UK’s Guapo are recreating the original avant/art rock aesthetic that traditionally has sported as many detractors as it has diehard fans. By approaching modern noise acts like the Boredoms and Mr. Bungle with a ’70s vibe of Mellotrons and swirling, repetitive guitar patterns, Five Suns is chock full of enough time signature changes and discordance to sate your inner prog child. The 46-minute title-track is thankfully divided into five sections, with the first showcasing the cymbalist tendencies of drummer Dave Smith. The second starts off faintly like Fantômas’ soundtrack to the current movie playing in Mike Patton’s head, but more philosophically like the cacophonous moments of Larks Tongue In Aspic-era King Crimson: Daniel O’Sullivan’s guitar and Matt Thompson’s bass drown out anything that Robert Fripp and John Wetton could’ve dreamed up in their best red nightmares. Part Three breeds geometrical patterns and equations as it is cleansed by Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Inner Mounting Flame, while Part Four waltzes through the court of the Crimson King. After exactly one witty minute of silence as track six, "Mictlan,” continues the raw fusion with a reined emphasis on the oddity factor, and the much quieter "Topan” leaves the listener with an indescribable clarity of headspace. At their best, Guapo are pure architects and Five Suns is their anti-rock that’s recommended only for the most adventurous prog fans.