Have you ever come across an artist or a band so peculiar, that you need time to research and understand their artistry? Well, that happened to us with Motihari Brigade. Although the mysterious name might trick you, we do know a fair bit about the project. Emerging from Bloomington, US, Motihari Brigade is the quirky rock outfit of songwriter and guitarist Eric Winston, a man who devotes his artistic life to the uncertain, not afraid of deviating from the beaten path. You will then understand why he created a whole philosophy behind his music, or – as he calls it – Rock-N-Roll Thoughtcrime: “inspired by Orwell, intended as an independent alternative to the official programming that overwhelms our tele-screens”.
Motihari Brigade’s latest effort takes the shape of ‘Algorithm and Blues’, a 13-track long journey into the project’s musical and lyrical identity. There’s a lot to unpack. Opening with the title track, we are instantly met by a classic rock gem with a rather strong chorus, setting the tone for what’s to come. ‘Reality Show’ throws in some reggae in the mix, showcasing how Winston is capable of dancing around genres, always championing his kaleidoscopic lyricism, exploring our troubled contemporaneity through its flaws and hypocrisies.
From there on, we are on a rollercoaster inside Motihari Brigade’s creative mind. It is a journey that can’t be stopped, not even from the ’70s-inspired fuzziness of ‘We Are The Gems’ or the slow poignancy in ‘Minefields and Downfalls’. Eventually, you’ll get to the end, and you’ll feel changed, lighter, initiated.
Recommended! Discover ‘Algorithm and Blues’ on Spotify:
