America Mystica

They Say...

Review by Brian Way, All Music Guide

Jackie O Motherfucker's music resides in a parallel universe of such fantastical proportions it almost requires a proverbial "suspension of disbelief" to absorb it. Over many years and multitudes of incredibly diverse-sounding releases the collective has spanned the gamut of sound, incorporating elements of folk, space rock, traditionals, free jazz, musique concrete, drone and noise, without ever being confined to any of those genres. Every subsequent release only conspires to confound the listener further, so the only way to digest their material is to close your eyes, open your mind and BELIEVE. American Mystica is no exception. Over four compositions and two CDs this collection comes off as highly orchestrated improvisation and barely controlled experimental mayhem. These "songs" vary from 20 to 30 minutes each, and rarely entertain the conventions of quaint ideas like structure or rhythm. They are open-ended and spacious, fractured and turbulent, evocative and romantic. With the use of everything from drums, horns, guitar, violin, keyboard, sampler, turntable, and vocals mumbled and shouted but never "sung", they create moods, scenarios, settings and soundscapes. It's like wandering into a party already in progress where multiple conversations and confrontations are scattered throughout a dimly lit mansion and rather than a blasting stereo there are a few musicians noodling disjointedly from different rooms on broken instruments... and then the acid kicks in. Instead of complete chaos it manages to be surprisingly cohesive, and the experience is equal parts soothing and unnerving. And none of it sounds forced - the band members are fluent in their unique language. There has truly never been a band like Jackie O-Motherfucker, and seems unlikely there ever will be another.