Album DescriptionIf music were capable of physically inhabiting space and time, of taking up residence in a room instead of just resonating in one, then perhaps we could properly map artists output. Some records would be synonymous with their place of their birth. Some would be suburbs leeching off the famous cities of their influences. Others would be unexplored islands far out at sea. Cougar fall into this last category, and it is a strange, beautiful land indeed. Conceived in Madison, Wisconsin, Cougars instrumental arrangements fall somewhere between Four Tet, Fugazi, and Nick Drakes guitar work, albeit optimistic as opposed to morose. The bands singular sound is rooted in a keen sensibility of form and texture, more in line with sample-based music and modern classical than indie rock - which isnt to say this is rock-as-academia Cougar also invoke the roaring riff monster, the fist-in-the-air, anthemic head-banger to which so many groups give only an ironic nod. Cougars second album, the forthcoming "Patriot," is an aggressive, narrative affair that sees the band reach even greater extremes than on their debut, "Law." The epic, sparkling counterpoint of the first record crops up, but "Patriot" firmly establishes itself as a different music, one that shreds the lines between electronic, rock and modern, but never forgets to pay allegiance to the hook. From the nuanced drive of opener "Stay Famous",