Appropriately named; ‘odd’, this group certainly is. The second record from Raz and friends is a weird mixture of slightly experimental loops infused with mediocre Americanised vocals. 

 

As Raz’s voice enters the second track ‘The Burning (Desire)’, you can’t help wondering if this whole project sprouted from a bloke messing around with his MacBook music programs whilst trying to be the next Justin Timberlake, and failing; these wannabe-husky vocals just sound a bit naff, really. 

 

Can’t say that the accompanying electronic music is great either; although, props to them both for trying to push the boat out and do something a bit different, quirky, in an effort to be individual and stand out. The robotic sounds may appeal to some people but it just seems as if these oddballs were browsing through some default automated synthesizer loops and picked out some space-age sounds that they thought sounded ‘cool’, but in reality those same ones are probably used as sound effects in Stargate SG-1.

 

What is equally as annoying is that the first sign of real musicality, in the first forty-five or so seconds of the forth track, Varsha, are swiftly eliminated when those weird synthesized sounds enter once again. Up until that point, this song is seemingly raw (apart from the drum machine), beginning with lovely flickerings of broken guitar chords, and joined by a less strenuous side of Raz’s voice, which is admittedly pleasant to listen to. But just after he starts to sing, your ears are greeted by some very unfitting, annoying loop (the sonic equivalent to someone trying to say ‘wick-a-wow’ whilst gesturing a ‘90s hip hop hand movement), which unfortunately remains throughout the track.

 

It may be the case that Raz and co. intended II to sound like they’re messing around in the production room, and if that is the case then fair play, they’ve created what they have intended. But honestly this album does not work at all. The more decisively electronic tracks such as ‘Frangment I’ and ‘Wildbirds’ stand alongside almost-trying-to-be-folk songs like ‘The Day You Suffered Helpless Out Of Reach And All Lines Were Dead’, and R & B vocals in ‘Praise The Day (No One Owes You Nothing)’. A very indecisive record, although there are glimmers of hope at times when the Orchestra’s organic ideas shine through, so here’s hoping Raz and the rest will find their niche by album number three.

--Bronya Francis