In the five years between Chicago trio Bitchin Bajas' 2017 full-length Bajas Fresh and its proper follow-up, Bajascillators, the group never fully stopped moving. There were low-stakes releases of live shows, a one-off split LP, and cassette-only albums that included a collection of unreleased material and 2021's gorgeous Sun Ra tribute Switched on Ra. Even with all this consistently solid output, Bajascillators is on a higher level of clarity and expression, serving as a gripping reminder of what Bitchin Bajas are capable of when they hone their focus. The lengthy album consists of just four extended pieces, each showing a different side of the Bajas' sound and each finding new ground within whatever mode the band is exploring. "Amorpha" is significantly more polished than the murky tonalities the band grew from in their earliest days, stacking layers of MIDI bell and bass sounds on top of staticky rhythms drawn from both digital and organic percussion sources. The song builds so gradually it almost feels like an unchanging loop for the first two minutes, but phased cymbal taps rise up in the mix as fluttering chime sounds scurry about, subtly changing the sonic picture. It's an incredible opener, not exactly like anything the Bajas have done before, with a deft arrangement made up of subtle changes and overlapping grooves. The next two tracks both nod to the influence of Berlin School artists, "Geomancy" moving with the same wonky synth stumble of some of Moebius' early solo work and the livelier "World B. Free" building up to a playful sequence reminiscent of Zuckerzeit-era Cluster. Rob Frye's overdubbed flute and sax parts bubble up from the mix around the halfway point of the nearly 12-minute song, as the overall structure of the piece shifts yet again. Final track "Quakenbrück" also breaks out of expected drone-rock formulas to change gears from steady electronic pulses and gentle synth bubbles to more propulsive live drums and quasi-jazz flute riffing. Bajascillators is a captivating and nuanced affair, and one that sees the group reaching their most intentional and metered form to date. The trio were always capable of more than mere spaced-out jams, but these four tracks organize all the bliss, curiosity, darkness, and contemplation Bitchin Bajas have shown in the past into something deeply considered and perfectly designed. ~ Fred Thomas, Rovi

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