Octophilia
Self-Released, 2023
9/10
A Belgian outfit who have been active for well over a decade now, KermesZ à l’Est combine jazz, metal, and Eastern European ideas into an inimitable formula of 9 exciting tracks.
“Azerian Dub” opens the listen with 2 parts that bring bright brass, acrobatic drumming and Eastern ideas into a very energetic, worldly version of jazz-rock, and “Kakoschizm” follows with a mesmerizing quality of rhythmic tuba and frisky drumming amid the punk spirited demeanor.
In the middle, the calmer “Trilock” unfolds across 4 chapters that carries a carnival-esque approach that also touches on big band nods and harder versions of rock, while “Pony Wurst” exits the listen with a soulful intimacy that builds into a dance floor ready anthem of festive Balkan sounds.
An extremely unique listen that recruits math-rock, baroque music and poeticism, you’ve probably never heard anything like KermesZ à l’Est before, but you’ll certainly want to hear Octophilia again.
Travels well with: Baby Fire- Grace; You Said Strange- Thousand Shadows Vol. 1