Janus by Le Grand Sbam

For fans of Can, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Zaliva-D, Zeul, and the dark humor innate within an existential crisis, Janus by Le Grand Sbam uses a maximalist, theatrical aesthetic to find the spiritual power hidden within our supposedly fallen bodies. A heterodox approach brings together elements of progressive rock, contemporary hip hop, acoustic ambient, abstract electronica, latin folk, and all manner of other diverse musical influences, implying this story’s universal applicability to all people in all cultural contexts. Vocal performances reminiscent of musical theater bring all of this maximalist energy up to absurd emotional heights, facilitating a tension so intense as to elicit a nervous laugh from the audience. Of course, the humor found at this mental breaking point serves a crucial function in the album’s message, encouraging us to go about our spiritual journey in ways which embrace the comical inadequacies of the human form and the many undignified aspects of an embodied existence.