Pennsylvania artist Les Brown’s latest release, The Next One, marks a bold evolution in his experimental rock journey, following his debut, The First One. This album celebrates a spectrum of influences from King Crimson to Brian Eno, and Brown skillfully navigates a range of genres, creating a captivating soundscape that makes the artist impossible to pin down stylistically. It’s undoubtedly an album you can’t just put on in the background and forget–it demands your full attention, and Brown seems to revel in all that is chaotic and unpredictable, keeping listeners on their toes. Yet there’s enough synthpop sensibility imbued to invite you in, and it’s pleasantly surprising when Brown reveals moments of pure melodicism, as if he is rewarding you.
The album begins brilliantly with “Picycle,” a track that in some ways seems like a mission statement, as Brown combines elements of psychedelic exploration, prog rock noodling, and even some krautrock electronica. There are a lot of world elements buried in there, too, especially on the track “Jungle Night,” but Brown never lingers in one place for too long, as he incorporates everything from smoky, dreamlike jazz on “Martini,” and even airy folk ambience on “Daisy in the Wind.” Overall, The Next One is a fantastically adventurous sonic landscape, making it a compelling addition for both fans of the avant-garde and those seeking a fresh musical experience.
