Astor In Paris

Album Review

Things have changed dramatically since 3 Leg Torso released their self-titled debut album in 1998. Back then they were a trio, and although original member and cellist Gabe Leavitt has since departed (he still appears on four tracks here), the group have now expanded into a quintet with the addition of bassist Michael Papillo, drummer Gary Irvine, and xylophone/percussionist Thomas Mackay. Inevitably, then, the new look of Leg have a fuller and more complex sound than their previous incarnation, and with the further addition of five guest musicians, the group explore even more intriguing musical directions, a new Technicolor flowering to accompany their cinematic styling. Musically, the band's reach is vast, encompassing everything from Latin rumbas to Russian folksongs and Balkan mazurkas to somber chamber music.

However, it's Mackay that has opened up the most amusing new vistas, his loony tune-esque xylophone running wild through cartoon soundscapes with exuberant abandon. The majority of the pieces, though, focus on Bela Balogh's emotive violin and Courtney Von Drehel's equally evocative accordion, which provide the heart and soul of the band's sound. All told it makes for a sumptuous album of many moods, each one unique and utterly enjoyable.