Josh Reichmann Oracle Band

Best known for his work in Toronto garage punk outfit Tangiers, and later for his idiosyncratic musings as Jewish Legend, Josh Reichmann returns to prog things up even more with this incarnation. The EP kicks off with the rootsy groove of "Great Shadows," accented by a sax and keys combo that portends the dissonant funk yet to come. It is followed by the beating heart of the EP - "Ancient Bloody Paradise (I Miss You)" and "Plant Words" - a striking pair of songs that should be ingested as one. The former is a smouldering soundtrack to Reichmann's almost ritualistic incantations ("Palm trees submerged with ships of white men's gold and bones") that reaches its apex with a truly glorious harmonica solo before descending with ease into the next song. "Plant Words" isn't in itself particularly striking but with its subtle keyboard stabs, sax accents and jumble of cryptic lyrics, the song serves as a rousing coda to its predecessor. More of this madness and Reichmann should find himself in mighty good stead.