A late-night garage jam between Santana, Phish and Dirty Heads is the best way to describe the trippy funk party happening on Flight, the new EP from Phillipsburg quartet Mosey Beat.
The album relies heavily on the second half of the band's namesake as its propelled forward by musicianship.
The melodies put forth on Flight hinge are tethered to the skillful precision of the players and a deep bottom end. In that regard, Flight, is a technical knockout.
On the title track, front-man/guitarist Taylor O'Connor lets off sparks of melodic fury that shoot past a fast-moving current of bass and drums. It's a solid structure that Mosey Beat builds upon nicely throughout the record.
Taylor O'Connor, drummer Blair O'Connor, keyboardist Dustin Napoli and bassist Dave Abraham immediately lock in on a tight groove and do not lose their collective grip. As dizzying as the music may be on the surface, it never wavers or loses its focus underneath the musical current.
The rhythm section of Blair O'Connor and Abraham drive the music with brute force, particularly on such heady jams as "Karmic Factory," "Death by Swine" and the title track.
On "Just Another Groovin Space Cadet," O'Connor gives a shout-out to the band's hometown while slyly bemoaning the stigma attached to the Garden State thanks to Snooki and MTV's Jersey Shore. It's a head trip of a tune.
O'Connor's skat-style vocals makes sense contextually. However, there are moments when the relaxed delivery does not keep pace with the music being played behind it; the only weak spot in an otherwise strong effort.
Pack your proverbial bags and take to the musical skies. Flight is a funky high that won't bring you down.