A Brooklyn outfit formed in 2015, Karabas Barabas possess many varied talents that can’t be easily categorized, but certainly fall somewhere in the area of atypical rock on this concept album about a clerk at a 99 cent store who burns the place down.
Jonathan Ashley’s thumping drums and Andrew Tuzhilin’s rumbling bass gets the listen started off, where “Down In Mississippi” welcomes loud bursts and driving sounds in the area of post-punk. “I Love My Son” then showcases Phranque Gallo’s sturdy guitar playing alongside the animated rhythm section, before “The Tale Of Lahojevich” enters grungy territory and finds rhythm and grooves.
In the middle, the head bobbin’, toe tappin’ “Get Good Grades” also welcomes hazy moments of calm post-rock, while “Ode To The Disenchanted Cottage” builds into a busy and cinematic landscape of flowing and intricate musicianship that resides closer to alt-rock.
Starting off side B is the melodic and crunchy, “Regina Blatz,, which is the best song and a scrappy moment of memorable interaction. “T.P.” then hits harder, and in less than 90 seconds reminds us of plenty of mid ’90s, guitar fueled post-punk that swirls with intensity and tunefulness.
The calm, almost dreamy “This Time” lands close to the end and spends seven-plus minutes mesmerizing us with its meticulous textures and radiant tone, but it’s the chugging “Deranged & Dangerous Man” that’s a bit quirky, playful and just so casual. The forceful and gritty “Jacques Lemaire” exits, and allows for Gallo’s barking voice and very direct wordplay that makes for a jarring finish to a commentary about capitalism.
The late, great Steve Albini recorded and mixed the album, and the sonic rawness of his work is certainly represented well. Similarities are hard to come up with on this one, but it's safe to say that if you like Primus, Mr. Bungle or Ween and enjoy the humor of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, this record belongs in your rotation.