siLLy puPPy A random sampling of BUCKETHEAD’s pummeling release flow of 2015. This is the 78th album released this year and with the start of an album released every day in October counting down the days to Halloween, the mysterious chicken loving masked dude has gotten even weirder. This is my first taste with BUCKETHEAD’s PIKE series so even though i was a fan ten years ago i kinda lost track but am now making up for lost time. This one has convinced me that i’ve been missing out and have to check em all out.

PIKE 179 - 28 DAYS TIL HALLOWEEN: THE INSIDES OF THE OUTSIDES finds BUCKETHEAD in a progressive electronic mode with no guitars to be found. This sounds a bit like a soundtrack of some sort. It does convey a certain level of spookiness but also sounds very classical musically oriented only disguised in a subdued darkened electronic hue. While i have not listened to most of his albums in the last ten years, i have to say that this one caught my attention thanks to a Zravkapt on PA who posted a video in the forum.

This is a dark ride into an electronic universe that starts off with a dark electronic synth that reminds me of Coil, Throbbing Gristle or other classic experimental electronic artists. As the album progresses it reminds me of everything from John Cage to the strangeness but the strange out of tune string instrument reminds me of Michael Masley’s strange album “Cymbalennium” (who is known for his works on the Hungarian cymbalom). Lot’s of strange pulsating electronic drones in the background. Weird as usual! I have to say that this one has caught my attention and thrown me back into the chicken coop.

Now i feel inclined to put my hands under every laying hen who has been impregnated with BUCKETHEAD’s musical seed. This one is unlike anything i’ve heard before and i’m convinced that this dude is a modern day genius despite having a few misses along the way. He can simply master every possible aspect of music and pull if off better than anyone else around when the stars align. I guess growing up in a chicken coop is good!

Be aware that there is no metal in this one, just electronic weirdness with an out of tune stringed instrument. Great for spacey and spooky but if you want metal look elsewhere