The Vegetable Orchestra

This 12-piece Vienna ensemble are not necessarily classified as avant-garde because of their song structures, which are based on, more or less, established forms of electronic, noise, ambient and pop music. They are avant-garde because of their unending search for unique timbres derived entirely from organic, often edible sources. Onionoise, their third album in 11 years, bares the fruits of that search with every crackle, gurgle, honk, squawk, tweet, bleat, thump and bump of countless combinations and servings of one of the world's greatest food groups. While their ambition is clearly laid out in the sonic palette of this album, their dedication is obvious, with each piece presented flawlessly. The recording quality and arrangements are leagues beyond those witnessed on their last album, 2003's Automate. Where once they sounded a little lost, the lower frequencies now resonate boldly under a tapestry of uncanny tones. At last, there is a Vegetable Orchestra album that demands to be listened to over and over.