By: Ross Edwards
Rating: 8/11

Dinowalrus is the “where the hell did this come from?” experimental rock trio that will perplex with a mix of live and programmed instruments. There is alien synth whirring, repeated keyboard patterns over tumbling tom and kick-heavy drumming, punchy electric bass grooving steadily, wall-of-distortion guitars, seemingly atonal vocals, and the confusion of unexpected reprisals, rhythms, and the occasional robotic voice. They are a noise band that you can rock out to while simultaneously thinking “is that a squeaking saxophone, or a reverb-heavy guitar?” The blend of sounds is unique, but never unbelievable.

What at its core may have been a new age meditation CD is tarnished brazenly by conflicting tempos, distorted shrieks, and an array of percussive clicks and clacks. Continuous is the synth setup that brings a sci-fi tone to an otherwise vaguely punk/rock/noise effort, a weirdo blending of vibes that are rarely heard combined or even near each other. There’s also an aroma of surf rock (from the guitar tones and cavernous drums), rockabilly, and a beyond Animal Collective sense of unexpectedly changing tempo, and an ear for what works.

The vocals are mostly ugly, echoey shouting, with frequently undecipherable lyrics, and the ones that can be heard seem nonsensical, although all this simply adds to their aura of mystery. The bizarrely soothing tone is sustained, as on the hushed, beautiful layers of singing-mumbling on “Haze on the Mobius Strip,” a song which leaves earth behind about halfway through, before embarking on an epic course through psychedelic and mature rocking. The song “CMYK” is an amazingly  catchy track, despite its unpredictability, and the disgusting singing is left behind, for a sinister spoken-word and sustained note vocals.

% is a highly recommended album, as the strength of its character will draw you into its quirky tale. What you might have first thought was too ferocious, mysterious, or absurd, becomes just right as each spacey note convinces of its own outlandish belonging.