Ryan Barclay, Kurt Johnson and Justin Rister, well known through-out the Northeast as The Moho Collective have released another full-length album, Anicca, full of musical artistry and mystical arrangement. Anicca marks their second studio effort and from cover to mix features their usual hands-on approach to all facets of each release and live performance.
Anicca is the belief that all things, including the self, are impermanent and constantly changing, the first of the three basic characteristics of existence. Not a surprising statement from three musicians whose collective personality reflects this belief beautifully through their live performances, which this album is. Recorded live with very few overdubs, raw and precise, fiery and brash, full of growth evidence that the band is evolving. Just the song titles alone should send you off to Google.
“Lingua Franca”, the opener, is playful, then thunderous, opening with what seems to be a toy car horn, rhythmic and distant, diving into a swirling traffic jam. “Chikyu Hakken” takes a fast turn East, pulling on the Asian strings, literally, almost as if they’re deriving a kinematic equation musically. There’s a syncopated quality that underlies the staccato guitar line with such a natural feel you’d think the guys were native to this, but it’s just the brilliance of The Moho, flexing subtly their band’s muscle and heart. Quickly changing direction, directed by Justin’s reggae/funk intro to Rainbow Young”, (Uticans will be familiar), you think you know right where they’re going, especially when Ryan and Kurt kick the groove in, but just like that, they’ll hit you right in the chest, sending you spinning off into a metal-tinged break, then right back to the funky groove. Proving even more the title fits, as even the groove isn’t permanent, it changes and morphs to fit the Delft-like explosions of The Moho’s collective energies.
“Oil On Canvas, 13x 29” fits right into why I’ve loved this band from first listen. Kurt’s guitar voicing is so literal, it makes the idea of vocals seem redundant, while Ryan and Justin seem to be of one mind, or at least interchangeable. It’s such a natural feel, it’s the rising and falling dynamics, the swells and swales that fall out from under you, then catch you gently, steadying for the next lift-off. “Chalet” carries on the thought with Kurt getting a loop going to ignite a quick rise from a Frippertronic hallucination into a Hendrixian explosion and back again. The return of Ryan’s didgeridoo haunts “Bamal” and signals another directional change deftly accompanied by Justin’s bass segueing into “Sampa”, yet another ethnicity, another chance to stretch out, this time Kurt calling out his inner-Belew circa 1985, absolutely brilliant work. “Dar Klite” soars gently, wistfully, then forcefully until leveling into a jazzy jam, ala “Return To Forever”. It’s the dynamics man! The dynamics! Another segue into “Wenindee”, flat-out Moho pyrotechnics, the rhythm section pounds and pulses, Johnson’s guitar soars then signals the out and it’s over. I wait for another track, but it’s done, well, just click play again, it’s a fabulous ride. After you let “Wenindee” play out, of course.
Key Tracks: Oil On Canvas, 13 x 29, Chalet, Bamal, Sampa, Wenindee
The Moho Collective is Justin Riser (bass), Kurt Johnson (guitar), Ryan Barclay (drums). The sessions were recorded live between March 3rd and 5th, 2012 at The Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Massachusetts with the tracks edited and prepared by Matthew D. Guarnere and Calvin May , mixed at Blackdog Recording Studios in Rochester by M.D.G. and Kurt Johnson and mastered to analog tape at What’s Real Unlimited, also in Rochester by M.D.G.. Matthew is credited as producer as well, along with the band.
The Moho Collective: on the web and Facebook. Buy the album on iTunes or cdbaby.
The band’s newest release, This is Life, is an album simple in theme, yet complex in form. Showcasing the diverse talent of the Northern-bred quintet, it draws on elements of jam, jazz, bluegrass, and roots to capture the signature sound associated with the Floodwood name. Birthed out of the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, the album features Al Schnier (moe.) on guitar, Nick Piccininni (The Abrams Brothers, The Atkinsons, The Delaney Brothers) on banjo and fiddle, Jason Barady (Wooden Spoon) on mandolin, Zachary Fleitz (Wooden Spoon) on bass, and Vinnie Amico (moe.) adds a unique percussive dimension otherwise unseen in music of this kind. Al, Nick, and Jason all take lead on vocals, and the musical variation of the band makes each track on This is Life take on a form of its own.
A personal favorite was track number five, “The Chemist.” The blend of man and machine is at a perfect split in this song. The guitar is hard and heavy and rips through the electronic loops elevating each intricate note. Just when you think the song ends it comes back even harder than before. “The Chemist” is followed by a much more laid back song, “Dirty Mouth.” I was blown away by the highs and lows that they created within this five minute song. They take what could have been a relatively simple jam and add subtleties that create a whole other world within the music. “Curtain Call” starts off with heavy drum influence and veers off into very slow, melodic guitar. Parts of the song broke away with organ and keys which created a very unique sound. Another personal favorite was “When in Doubt.” The song starts off very melancholy and slow but is picked up by the drums and keys. For a relatively slow tempo song “When in Doubt” is very hard-hitting. The entire album was nothing short of phenomenal these boys certainly did not disappoint a first time listener.
With a notorious combination of great music and a welcoming family friendly atmosphere, this festival has become a favorite of many, especially . While a small festival overall, StrangeCreek has benefited from positive word of mouth over the years and continues to grow and gain loyal attendees seeking out the best music in New England. Several Upstate NY bands, including Donna the Buffalo, Jimkata, Conehead Buddha, Marco Benevento, Eastbound Jesus and Lucid will be making an appearance this year, as well as numerous bands that make routine trips through Upstate New York.
Aside from the music, the festival also offers Yoga, bonfires, late night music, and an overall sense of community, that is missing at many larger events. This year, as in years prior the gates will open on Thursday evening for those looking to get a jump on the weekend. 
