Mind Maze

Arizonas Trees Speak continue their impressive run of genre-fusing would-be soundtracks with their sixth album, Mind Maze. Not quite as monstrous as their previous effort, 2021s Vertigo of Flaws: Emancipation of the Dissonance and Temperaments in Irrational Waveforms, Mind Maze is still an ambitious work that busily draws connections between several styles and eras, and seems to have an incredible time doing so. The opening title track gradually evokes all-consuming dread with its crisp drums and clear synth arpeggios. Immediately after, the group loosen up with the funky shuffle of "Minotaur" and the bugged-out sci-fi spy rhythm of "Syndrome." "Sospetto" is closer to sinister yet jaunty baroque pop, and other tracks like the angular "Burner" simultaneously express joy and horror in different ways. "Rare Earth" is a dark, paranoid synthwave piece with vast, pulsating synths that spread like giant mutant tentacles. Much of the remainder of the album slips between Krautrock and haunted jazz, with the racing, flute-driven "Odyssey" and the sly, string-laden "Black Phone" being two of the highlights. The album itself concludes with "Stone Tape," a wonderfully sleazy crime jazz scene. Two tracks from a bonus 7" included with the vinyl edition, "Seraphim" and "Orpheus," represent the groups mellow side, choosing acoustic guitars and wavering organs over heavy rhythms. The albums digital edition includes these tracks as well as "Machines Speak," a killer Kraftwerk-meets-Carpenter sci-fi electro jam from a limited white label 7". ~ Paul Simpson