In their maiden journey to lutruwita/Tasmania, Cone Of Confusion, who usually reside in Eora/Sydney, performed twice in the Southern city of nipaluna/Hobart.
On Friday night, March 31 the Psychedelic Space Jazz quintet made up of Chris Blundell (saxophone), Jack Garzonio (synth and keyboard), Rémi Marchand (guitar), Juan Carlos Negrete Lopez (drumkit) and Jay Woo (bass) took to the stage at Altar bar.
As well as maintaining the aforementioned instrumentation arrangement, guitarist Rémi Marchand incorporated unconventional instruments and vocals to accompany the ubiquitous experimentation that is Cone Of Confusion.
Adorned in mostly black and decorated with different configurations of the moon, the band shared their transcendental and hypnotic take on jazz to an eager audience. Ebbing and flowing between playing songs from their most recently released album Hominid and deeply entrancing sections of improvisation, they had the crowd locked in to a collective sway.
As mesmerising as the moon on a clear autumn night, the band warmed up into their unique sound that at times drew parallels with Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon, John Frusciante’s Empyrean and Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain all the while maintaining their own authentic style of jazz.
Supporting Cone of Confusion were the polished yet vivacious Glitchcraft, who, despite reducing their drumming output by 50 per cent, produced an infectious set that stayed true to their genre-bending musical style. In their unmistakable way, Robin Gapski (lead guitar) incorporated his improvised solos that would be honoured by the rock legends of the 70s, whilst Joel Barker (drums) drove the remaining band members in and out of their undulating sound with his signature virile pizazz and finesse.
Filling out the rest of the stacked lineup were local band Philomath and their distinct style of art rock— – a blend of windswept vocals and enchanting instrumental arrangements.
For Cone Of Confusion, a band that has only been releasing music for four years, the future looks to be illuminated by the emergence of what should be a bright future in thea music scene across Australia, and even globally.
So, stay tuned for what will be the many cycles of this emerging band for whom the possibilities of sound far outreach the genre of classical jazz music.
