Peeping Tom

Since Faith No More parted ways Mike Patton has been known for his more schizophrenic and decisively anti-mainstream projects, mostly opting to explore the his vocal range and musically uncharted realms. Though always diversifying his portfolio and working with a disparate variety of artists including Björk and the Dillinger Escape Plan, Patton has tended to shy from a traditionally accessible sound in personal projects like Fantômas. While Peeping Tom keeps the spirit of this innovation alive it does so in a much more radio friendly fashion. The 11-track mania contains collaborations with big names including Kool Keith, Norah Jones, Massive Attack, Amon Tobin and Kid Koala, but doesn’t succumb to any one of their individual styles. Each song, like each artist, has its own distinct personality while maintaining certain elements that bind the project into a cohesive unit. The concept is reminiscent of the Spawn soundtrack, which garnered a good deal of attention in the late ’90s for its genre hopping syntheses. The record surveys a wide range of territory based in vocal performances that cross from Mr. Bungle-like rap moments to crooned melodies, anchored in an electronic, hip-hop and industrial mélange that astutely incorporates traditional rock structures. The opening track, "Five Seconds” featuring Odd Nosdam, is a good indicator of what’s to come, starting off with a strange Middle Eastern inspired mix, followed by a sweetly sung, beat-driven verse, completed by unconventional vocal manoeuvring layered onto industrial strength riffs. Ears open and mind ready, this record has the potential to appeal to anyone — it’s that good.