Mushroom: Glazed Popems

Mushroom-who share keyboardist Brian Felix with OM Trio, whose 2003 self-release Globalpositioningrecord was just reissued by Black Beauty-are adept replicators of their eclectic record collections. Thankfully, the Oakland ensemble’s members have good taste. The first of their new two-disc set, Glazed Popems, is subtitled “London,” and it reflects Mushroom’s infatuation with various strains of British psychedelia, prog rock and folk-rock. Gotta put that electric harpsichord and Mellotron to use, bro. Pitch-perfect homages to Ummagumma-era Pink Floyd, Pentangle, early King Crimson and The Wicker Man soundtrack mark some of this CD’s highlights. Disc two (subtitled “Oakland”) ventures into wistful jazz reveries, blaxploitation-flick mugging, languorously unspooling space-rock/jazz-fusion jams and growling, Brian Auger-like funk. Mushroom are promiscuous genre-jumpers, executing their moves with sincerity and occasionally a cocked-eyebrow sense of mischievousness. If only their music were as memorable as their album art.

Originally Published March 1, 2005