Opener Dock Ellis is a doozy at nearly nine minutes, although it never overstays its welcome. John Barkley flexes his muscle here with keyboard work of Stevie Wonder pedigree, while Jon Godsy is equally impressive with the bass line throughout.
Shama Pt. 1 and Skip Dickson borrow from lo-fi purveyors Toro y Moi and Ariel Pink in crafting a Studio 54-worthy disco groove. Spiritz is more Pretty Lights than Umphreys McGee, but Skull Shaker blends those two worlds wonderfully.
Album highlight Chimenea is found smack-dab in Blooms middle. Montu is no stranger to genre-bending, but the group really outdoes itself, moving from a gorgeous acoustic guitar hook at the beginning to a dreamy, Southwestern jam groove that combusts into a gripping, jazzy bridge with killer horns around the five-minute mark.
Available for download at montu.bandcamp.com, Bloom nearly does the impossible in matching Montus live prowess, more than capable of getting the party started in the privacy of your own home. Joshua Boydston
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