To start a CD review with superlatives is unusual, but outstanding, sublime, magnificent, innovative, breathtaking and arresting are terms that spontaneously come up when listening to this studio album from the Horse Flies, their first in a long time. (After the death of their bass player they lost the motivation to continue without their dear music friend.)

This fantastic NY band, who combine acoustic instruments with synthesizer, folk, and improvisation, was founded in 1981. Since then they've toured the U.S, Canada and Europe with their innovative music, astounding audiences everywhere with their unique music.

The core members are Richie Stearns with his emotional singing and banjo playing, Judy Hyman with her striking violin playing, and Jeff Claus on e-bow, banjo uke, and acoustic and electric guitars. But also the three other musicians, on accordion, Moog synthesizer, percussion, and bass are essential in creating the inspiring sound of this group. Their trancelike rhythm with that driving banjo playing makes you think of the blues from Otis Taylor more than once, musically as well as lyrically.  In "Veins of Coal" and "Baghdad Children" they illuminate the difficult lives of coal miners and the destiny of the children of the world who are threatened by terrorist violence. "Veins of Coal" arouses feelings of desolation and unjustice; just in the way Taylor can make you feel with his masterful banjo rhythms, here is one place that Richie's masterful banjo rhythms make you think of Taylor.  True poets, both Stearns and Claus know how to bring out maximum emotion with a minimum of  images. Judy's beautiful violin playing gives the listener shivers and works as a catalyst to let all those feelings come out and to intensify them.  Anyone who remains untouched after hearing "Drunkards Child" is not from this world.

But the album Until the Ocean is mainly a group product, innovative like the instrumental group The Peguin Café.  Old and new are blended so skillfully that it exceeds what you can imagine. The haunting instrumental "Rafting" is cinematic.  In fact, in addition to their minimalist dance music, the band has made some film scores.  In all they've put out 8 albums. And Stearns and Hyman also joined Natalie Merchant on her highly praised album, The House Carpenter's Daughter. 

Talent just bursts out from the seams everywhere.  Taki Masuko, with his energetic percussion must be mentioned because that is the force of these Horse Flies who with their musical interaction know how to create driving, hypnotic music, which stays in your ears and soul and moves you, even when the last notes have died away.