Mmm… Cafe Oto by Hedgehog

For fans of Black Country, New Road, Pij, Ninush, musique concrete, and random emotional outbursts over the most mundane experiences, Mmm… Cafe Oto by Hedgehog takes a minimalist approach to ensemble improvisation, leaving ample space in the composition for intimate, absurd poetry. Vast swathes of the record consist of sparse, sporadic contributions from various members of the band, with these only occasionally combining into something that raises the environment’s intensity before quickly dropping back down. However, a gradual magnetic pull aligns all of these elements around a vibrant, expressive vocal, aligning this post-rock instrumentation into something resembling the baroque pop corners of the windmill sound. Taking a few unsteady steps, this rare instance of more conventional cooperation between instruments still contains the element of randomness which makes this record so immediately endearing, making every second feel like something born spontaneously out of a deep interpersonal connection between the musicians. This triumph of alignment places us in communion with others, sharing our deepest selves with others finally succeeding at doing the same.