*** V. MAJESTIC

(Edgy)

Providence greenhorns V. Majestic have musical tastes as exotic as they are vast: chilly krautrock burps, kaleidoscopic acid-guitar solos, jazz-infected freakouts, and glimmers of exotica and eerie pop textures are all part of the group's Beefheartian mix. More than eclecticism, it's the enthusiasm with which guitarist Robert Jazz and his cohort throw themselves into these various styles that makes their mostly instrumental V. Majestic debut so appealing.

On the opening "I Was Kicked in the Horse by a Head When I Was Three," the quintet plunge into a smooth brass solo and brazen guitar bit with equal élan. On "Freudis Sexualis" they likewise jump from horn to guitar, then conjure even greater gusto as the number skids toward chaotic electronic squealing. These noisy peaks dotting the soundscape give you a cathartic tingle like those you might get from Sonic Youth or Yo La Tengo. But the album's real highlight is "Open Casket (for Tiny)," where the band add otherworldly, emotionally detached vocals to a mix of prominently placed vibes, thunderous percussion, and ominous horns, an amalgamation that brings to mind the quaint pop mastered by Brian Eno in his solo career's first phase. Eccentric yet playful, creepy yet comforting, the number is the ideal sendoff to this whimsical left-field gem.

-- Jay Ruttenberg