3dCosby’s latest album, Satan’s Secret, is quite the trip from start to finish. The record follows a distinctive path, taking ‘60s influences and running with them. Dream-like elements, spacey instrumental parts, and erratic placement of vocals make for a unique listening experience. This record is the brainchild of Matt Ross and Daniel Harris, the musicians behind it all. The duo has remained friends while working together for years. The strange result of their work would be the perfect background music for a hallucination. Literally, this record sounds like what a psychedelic trip would feel like.
Despite its quirks, the record in question does have a cohesive fluidity to it within its twelve tracks. There are obvious modern indie vibes that are revealed throughout the album. These contemporary musical moments are what make the composition relevant and listenable. The opening number, “Kenvio,” is frightening because for a second, it is possible that the entire record may carry on this way. The song is balanced out somewhat later on by “Paint By Numbers,” which has a structure that is a bit more conventional. The fifth tune, “Pipes,” mellows out the hysterical patterns displayed prior, as it floats along with its simple, instrumental melody.
The musical goal of 3dCosby remains a mystery as Satan’s Secret plays through. Sonically, the band never allows for this piece to reach a climax. One notable point of distinction can be awarded on track number seven, “Big,” where distorted guitars accompany a frantic screaming session, possibly being the most honest moment recorded here. Overall, there is a lack of accessibility that will probably handicap this band from gaining a widespread fanbase. While listening to the primarily instrumental work, it is often a challenge to decipher the beginning from the end. Closing out with a hidden track, this album leaves you just as confused as you were upon hearing the first number. 3dCosby doesn’t allow room for the imagination, as you try to understand why they wrote their music this way in the first place.
In A Word: Messy
