Guerilla Toss: Eraser Stargazer

Percussive and abstract, this is a band that demands your undivided attention. Vocalist Kassie Carlson’s warble can be grating at first, but as the tunes accumulate, her purpose becomes clear. Her eccentric vocals – mumbled recitations that are intermittently driven to a yelp, as though they are being poked with a hot iron – are a conjuring. Her lyrics run parallel to the band’s disjointedness, covering topics of mental illness, hallucinogenics and addiction.

The album’s production benefited from its short lead time. Written and recorded in only six weeks, Eraser Stargazer sounds fresh and frenetic. Drummer Peter Negroponte’s seductive beats pound through the mix, taking command of the psychedelic orchestrations. Unexpected twists and turns sideswipe the album’s manic jaunts, with ‘Grass Shack’ switching midway through like a Mr. Bungle track, resembling a distorted carnival tune. This is an album full of surprises, and the only consistency is its inconsistency.

Erazer Stargazer isn’t an album for the faint-hearted. First impressions may last, but the funk will always prevail.