siLLy puPPy PIKE 117 - VACUUM is the 16th album released by BUCKETHEAD in 2015. Like the others in the PIKE series, this one clocks in near the half hour mark at 30:11. Unlike the majority of the PIKE series, this one consists of several shorter tracks instead of a few sprawling behemoths. This one has seven with most being under four minutes. Only one is longer.

VACUUM is yet another sound for BUCKETHEAD. The first track “Basement Steps” is very bass oriented with drums. In fact i don’t hear any guitar or any other instrument for that matter. Despite its simplicity, the bass is well played and has interesting staccato play with the drums.

Track two “Floating” pretty much has the same set up of bass and drums with a different melodic development. This reminds me how interesting just a single bass player with revolving drum patterns can be.

Track three “Endless Rain” is guess what?!!! You got it! A drum and bass track. Well actually, so are all the rest of the tracks as well. Not a bad sound on this one. Actually i have never really heard an album dedicated exclusively to only a bassist and drummer in tandem creating melodies, rhythms and musical magic. While BUCKETHEAD is credited as the only musician playing the parts, in reality who knows but it matters not for this one is actually a decent listen despite the idea coming off as uninteresting. This is basically stripped down metal. The bass is electric and the drums are energetic as is the music.

I think the secret to why this works is that there are seven tracks with seven different melodic developments instead of one or two long drawn out and milked to death ideas. I wouldn’t call this essential by any means but i’m finding it an interesting listen. I guess the whole concept of VACUUM is that a giant one sucked up the other instruments to never never land and only the bass and drums survived like cockroaches to keep the music from going extinct. Yeah right!