Such Fine Particles of the Universe (2002)
What exactly is "Bubblemath"? From the design of the lavish packaging, it would appear to be a science of some sort. It is possibly a hybrid of the high-octane, multi-part vocalizations and absurd lyrical subjects of Yezda Urfa with a modern and aggressive alternative edge. Or maybe it's a cross between the incessant chord changes and similarly vocal oriented songs of Echolyn, and the off-beat humor of Mike Keneally. Whatever the hell you want to call it, it kicks ass in its own unique and adventurous way. This young quintet from Minnesota has brought us their own idiosyncratic take on progressive rock, filled with "writhing time signatures and swollen chord progressions, drenched with political savvy".
At times, the music can feel like the aural equivalent of attention deficit disorder; tons of great chord progressions and constantly shifting time signatures keep the listener on their toes, awaiting something new around every corner. The shorter song lengths suit the energetic, and sometimes spastic, nature of the songs. Accents such as flute, xylophone, sampled TV and various effects add to the musical diversity. The player's dexterity shines throughout the album, with the ability to tackle the break-neck changes with ease, and retaining a continuous flow. The complexity does not sacrifice the insatiable chattiness of the songs either. Kai Esbensen's lyrics are for the most part quite clever; differing from those of traditional prog, and covering topics that are at times goofy, topical and down to earth.
This exciting and impressive debut comes highly recommended. It's always encouraging to see a young new band breathe some fresh air into the rather stagnant prog genre, and I will await the follow up to Such Fine Particles of the Universe with great anticipation. Here's to supporting Bubblemath's "dedication to the propagation and continued survival of non-stupid music". - Mike Prete [February 2002]
Source: http://www.progweed.net/reviews/bubblemath/bubblemath-band.html#suchfine