CB3 – Exploration

 

 

CB3 – Exploration
Majestic Mountain Records – 2022
Rock, Psych, Space, Kraut, Jazz, Grunge
Rated: *****

CB3 is Charlotta’s Burning Trio and has been since their first self-titled release back in 2015. Charlotta’s Burning Trio has also always been that jazz rock jam band that used middle eastern motifs, psychedelic meanderings and cosmic outburst to paint their instrumental musical rainbows across the celestial dome. Their new release Exploration, indeed explores, a different approach. This time around, the music traverses through heavier territory, using the guitar to deliver as much riffs as jazzy freak outs. But when the guitar lets loose, it still flies as high as a kite on Mars. Heavier territory does not mean you suddenly get metal and doom, no, the shift is gradual and deliberate, and perhaps not as apparent in opener Daydreams. For it almost feels like it uses indie slacker grooves to slowly trudge through the universe, except of course during those sudden bursts of electrifying jazzy guitar bursts. Another shift that immediately reveals itself during the opening track, is the fact that they have moved from solely instrumental compositions to also making use of the very youthful, sweet, and syrupy voice of Charlotta, to deliver their galactic adventure. That extra element might well be key for this entire album, for even though her voice is used sparsely, you can easily see where the compositions deliberately left room for her honey voice to sweeten you up to the new CB3 sound. It almost feels like that sound wants to move into more grunge territory, but because of it’s laidback and jazzy atmosphere stays, moves and dances around in that earlier mentioned slacker terrain. Slacker does not mean anything negatory, just that more mellow, indie, cool laziness attitude to grunge. And if it wasn’t apparent in opening track Daydreams for, it sure is the key approach to following track To Space And Away, opening guitar riff, vocal hook, leaves nothing to the imagination, or in fact, everything to the imagination. You will surely close your eyes and nod off into a nineties universe. And sure, the freak out jam part in the middle will transfer you to another realm entirely, it still retains that cool swagger atmosphere and mellow attitude. But what it lifts it all To Space And Away is the fact that they use kraut, psych and space elements to turn their Exploration into a euphoria filled sparkling diamond of a release…

(Written by JK)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

Majestic Mountain Records