AMN Reviews: Surplus 1980 – Illusion of Consistency (2023; Bandcamp)

Squarely in the Idiot Flesh / Mr. Bungle vein, Oakland’s Surplus 1980 features percussionist Moe Staiano (of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum). He is joined by guitarist / bassist Melne Murphy and Bill Wolter on guitar, piano, and synth, as well as an array of guests. These include Fred Frith, Amy X. Neuberg, Aaron Novik, Carla Kihlstedt, and Darren Johnston among others.

Illusion of Consistency contains the quirkiness that you might expect from the above description. It is Zappa-infected rock music with twisted time signatures, jazz breaks, and a sense of punk urgency. Other reference points might be Henry Cow spinoffs Cassiber and The Work.

Three of the nine short-to-medium-length tracks are instrumental. The eponymous Illusion of Consistency is likely improvised and explores chording and long-held notes over a jagged rhythm. The J Allen BART Station Memorial Barbeque employs a similar rhythmic structure but with staccato horn patterns and free improv.

The remaining tracks have sung vocals, with topical lyrics drawn to pandemic masking, conspiracy theories and related nonsense, society’s failure to respond effectively to mental health issues, and the possible election of a certain fascist-adjacent politician. This opinionated approach is tempered with empathy and a genuine concern for the state of the world.

Regardless, a few listens to Illusion of Consistency give the impression that Staiano, Murphy, Wolter, and crew are nothing short of stellar musicians who are experimenting with an established format. But they do so in such a way that is both familiar and refreshing. It is not hard to put them in a stylistic bucket, but very difficult for them to be defined narrowly.