*** Curlew

FABULOUS DROP

(Cuneiform)

Curlew have long been one of new music's more affably twisted bands, with a keen sense of humor and a firm grasp of popular music. With cellist Tom Cora and drummer Pippin Barnett departed, guitarist Chris Cochrane and drummer Kenny Wolleson join founding saxophonist George Cartwright and guitarist Davey Williams, as well as longtime bassist Ann Rupel. They never sweat segues from reggae to rock to odd meters to free-jazz deconstructions. And the album's emotional range -- from the breezy title track to the righteous anger of "Not Innocent" to the wistful "Neither Baby" -- is as broad as the band's command of different genres. The two guitarists tug and tear maniacally at the bass grooves on "Blood Meridian" while Cartwright rails in jagged, acid-edged shards of melody. "Argon" swings from cartoony exaggeration to dead-serious soul searching in the blink of an eye. On "Crazy Feet, Sensible Shoes," musical toys add an absurd touch to some raucously gleeful blues-rock guitar and rasping saxophone soloing. Curlew have been at this sort of thing for nearly 20 years, and they still make it sound fresh, provocative, and entertaining.

-- Ed Hazell