Philadelphia's iNFiNiEN take us on an enjoyable and eclectic whirlwind tour on this, their eponymously titled second album. With its roots in the jazz world, the album's music attempts fusions with various other genres such as psychedelic rock, straight rock, flamenco, other Spanish/Mexican derived and Eastern, as well as giving us a couple of samples of straight late-night club jazz.
The musicianship is first class, with a special mention from me for Matt Hollenberg's guitars and Chrissie Loftus's keyboards. Chrissie also does the vocals; I'll talk more about her singing later. The band line-up is completed by the solid rhythm section of Jordan Berger (bass and sitar) and Tom Cullen (drums and percussion). Additional musicians guest on the album playing trumpet, sax and viola. The main songwriter in the band is Hollenberg, with Loftus as the main lyricist, but all contribute to the music at some point.
The eclecticism is quite pronounced: certainly listening to one sample track will give you little idea of the album as a whole: but, luckily, if you are interested then the album is available for free streaming listening at the link given below.
"Knock Knock" opens up with Arabian phrasing in the vocal and instrumental writing before opening up into a psychedelic rock type jam; the use of the viola and the female vocal putting one briefly in mind of Curved Air, but it turns out to be a fleeting comparison. In particular, the vocal style is nearer to Björk or Joanna Newsom than it is to Sonja Kristina; sung in a fragile sweet voice, as seems to be very popular these days, with the phrasing often making its own meandering way independent of the music played by the instruments, something which I personally find slightly disconcerting. It's a style that personifies the album.
"Aquatica" is rockier and jazzier and features some good guitar and keys: the fleeting memory recalled by this one is of Steely Dan, but it is also quite psychedelic. "Make the Choice" gives us more stunning guitar, this time giving us flamenco before "Breathe Easy" takes us on our first visit to the late-night jazz club: sweet piano and good sax on this. The opening of "Trivial Pursuit" continues in the late-night jazz club mood, before developing into a jazz-rock jam session. I'm lost trying to pigeon-hole "Into Pieces" but "Spiritual Rats" sees the return of eastern musical influences. "Despierta" has Mexican/Spanish overtones and is actually sung in Spanish: there's another long jazz-rock jam on this with some impressive guitar work. "Beauty is Beast" takes us back to the jazz club for some smooth listening before "Perpetual Twilight" shakes us from our slumbers with some heady jazz-rock: another good jam with some excellent sax and trumpet.
As you can see, quite a mix, held together by the musicianship but perhaps the most identifiable feature is Chrissie's singing style and phrasing. It is that which will be the feature that will make you love or leave this band. Listen for yourself.
Track Listing:-
1) Knock Knock (5:56)
2) Aquatica (5:55)
3) Make the Choice (6:54)
4) Breathe Easy (5:35)
5) Trivial Pursuit (7:10)
6) Into Pieces (2:35)
7) Spiritual Rats (5:49)
8) Despierta (5:49)
9) Beauty is Beast (5:18)
10) Perpetual Twilight (9:47)
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