Search - Muffins :: Bandwidth

The Muffins' heyday was in the early 1970s, when they put an American twist to the rock fusion sound of the seminal art-rock band Henry Cow. Saxophonists Dave Newhouse and Thomas Frasier Scott wrote brainy compositions, played them with verve over tricky time signatures, and attempted to elevate rock to more advanced musical territory without straying into jazz terrain. Like Henry Cow, Soft Machine, and early King Crimson, they incorporated horns into their arrangements. Bandwidth, the first recording from the band after a 20-year break, should hearten old fans and find new ones. The 13 compositions by Newhouse are intelligent and succinct as they weave multiple themes through myriad permutations and elaborations. On the seven-minute opus "Out of the Boot," they sound like a small orchestra as they change dynamics and tone colors dramatically. A section of "East of Diamond," on the other hand, explores extreme sound textures and recalls progressive rock's radical foundation. --Wally Shoup