Other Side Drive November 6, 2012

By Alex Frank
KTSW Music

November 6, 2012

Music Review

Cobra Juicy is the fifth full-length album from the Pittsburgh based experimental electronic group Black Moth Super Rainbow. This outing showcases frontman Tobacco’s vocals more so than other releases which makes it inherently more accessible than their first release “Falling Through a Field.” The first single “Windshield Smasher,” sets the tone for the album and introduces the listener to this more refined and focused version of Black Moth Super Rainbow.

The track, “Psychic Love Damage” slows the pacing of the album and introduces the parallelism of love and elation with a dreamlike state. As if to ground the listener, Tobacco reminds us of the crushing realization, “The thought that we’ll both be gone someday.” Returning to the dirty analog monopoly leads from earlier in this album, “Gangs in the Garden” shows the group’s ability to create a sonically dense, yet inherently danceable track. While generally nonsensical, Tobacco’s lyrics emit a sense of vulnerability and forlorn conformity.

This release, while drenched in hairspray and citrus references stands as one of Black Moth Super Rainbow’s strongest releases. It also shows that their musicality wasn’t corrupted as a result of making a more accessible album. More information can be found at http://www.blackmothsuperrainbow.com.