According to Ghostly, "TOBACCO's just trying to make meditation music." The opening track to the Black Moth Super Rainbow frontman's 3rd, 2014 album, Ultima II Massage, at first listen, might indicate otherwise, as the twisted, sometimes aggression-fueled synth punk is a common thread throughout much of the 16 tracks. Take "Father Sister Berzerker," for instance, w/ its fat, distorted bass and ominous melodies mingle on top of hip-hop influenced rhythms, or "Eruption (Gonna Get My Hair Cut at the End of the Summer)," complete w/ belching synths and echo-filled, whispery female vocals that add to the dark overtone of the track. Oddly enough, though, there is something very calming about aforementioned numbers and tracks like ""Face Breakout," "Omen Classic," "Good Complexion," and "Lipstick Destroyer." Maybe it's the enigmatic quality that persists, or the psychedelic synth work at the center of the compositions. So yes, Tobacco makes meditation music, just not the minimal, ambient kind (which is cool also) that we're more accustomed to .

• yellow vinyl pressing
• limited to 5000 copies
• music label: Ghostly International 2014

reviewed by fresh noods 11/2016