For all its merits, rapping over the drum machine and a rubbery synthy-bass wasn’t something I was expecting from Nick Millevoi, but his newest album marks another turning point for the ever-mercurial guitarist from Philly.
Millevoi has conquered thrash-jazz (Many Arms), introspective solo guitar (Black Figure of a Bird), Sergio Leone-inspired soundtrack music, and many more styles of music off the beaten path. So after getting over the initial shock, I’ve come to realize that the electronic-imbued Digital Reaction (July 14, 2023, Ropeadope Records) is just another stop on Millevoi’s gonzo voyage.
That aforementioned hip-hop number “Spins of the Axis” features rapper Lushlife with free-funk giant Jamaaladeen Tacuma responsible for all those low-end pulses, but when Millevoi’s guitars come into focus, it all starts to make sense: he’s just as much of a nonconformist on this record than on any of his other ones.
Moreover, there are many bridges back to his earlier incarnations: Many Arms compadre Johnny DeBlase is on hand to provide bass for the tilted groove of “Dyno My Ride” which sees Millevoi chopping it up with Bryan Murray’s sax. Ron Stabinsky, the other half of Millevoi’s new Grassy Sound duo, was enlisted to provide synthesizer support for this tune as well as the “surf guitar from outer space” track “Five Alive” also featuring the funktastic bottom end of Tacuma. And the creepy, galloping “Midnight Connection” has Pete Cosey-styled wah-wah guitar tossed in for good measure.
Desertion Trio drummer Jason Nazary is brought in to provide real percussion alongside the artificial stuff for “Creepy Jawn,” a track that probably wouldn’t be out of place with that trio if the electronics were removed. Nazary brings more thunder for “Rock & Roll Start” and Millevoi goes counter to the expected power chords, instead bleeding out heavily FX’d, backwards-sounding notes.
Tacuma also figures heavily into “Bless This SMS,” finding the perfect bass line to counter Millevoi’s squalling axe and stoutly locking down the underlying harmony amid the swirl of guitars and saxophones on “Touch Tone.”
Digital Reaction has all the wide ranging guitar-led gumption and fortitude of Marc Ribot’s Atomic Dog but with Nick Millevoi’s own stamp, marshaling shards of most everything he’s done up this point while adding a few new tricks. Pre-order/order Digital Reaction from Bandcamp.
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