Surf Masada: The Compositions Of John Zorn
Heyday Again, 2026
8/10
This debut album from Ohio’s Golems Of The Red Planet finds the quartet playing an all instrumental effort that reimagines and rearranges the recordings of John Zorn.
“Hadrial” opens with Matt Reese’s strategic cello alongside Bob Ethington’s drumming acrobatics and plenty of rhythm, and “Mehalalel” follows with Harvey Gold’s warm guitar that suits the melodic surf rock climate.
Halfway through, “Paschar/Tzofeh” is strong on ambience before bursting into a charged delivery where Mark Allender’s bass won’t go unnoticed, while “Mo’ed” blends the strings with a dynamic rhythm section and the radiant guitar.
Close to the end, “Re’Cha” is an animated moment where all 4 players contribute their talents in spades with both adventurousness and restraint, and “Belial” exits with a cinematic quality that’s mysterious, dense and interactive in a creative fashion.
A truly unclassifiable record, nods to art rock, jazz, surf and folk are present, as the reverb and atypical texturing might bring to mind artists as diverse as ELO, The Velvet Underground or The Soft Machine.
Travels well with: The Oxys- Casting Pearls Before Swine; Jesika von Rabbit- Bunnywood Babylon