mouse on the keys – Out Of Body (2017)

Japan experimental jazz trio mouse on the keys transition from the resounding melodic poignancy of previous records towards a softer, minimalist and ultimately more somber territory in Out Of Body. It is a territory that comprises brooding post-punk synths in ‘Earache’; drony electronica in ‘Dark Lights’ and ‘Out Of Body’; an artwork depicting broken and fragmented romance. The more complex and impetuous side of mouse on the keys remains in tracks like ‘Afterglow’, where piano, strings and off-kilter percussion are thrown together a steaming brew of dissonant jazz. For the most part, however, Out Of Body is a dark and gloomy album where themes of mortality, solitude and despair are conjured up. This really an out of body experience (yeah, I went for the wordplay bait) for the band, but it is also an impressive turn, showcasing their artistry, their technique and their narrative skill.