Photo: Press
Along with Faith No More, Primus are oft-quoted by some of the forefathers of the somehow still thriving nu-metal scene as some of their biggest influences, though its not fair to blame them for what followed. Besides, the three pillars of said genre – toxic masculinity, musical redundancy and a serious lack of humour and self-awareness, are certainly not something you would associate Primus with. Bassist and vocalist Les Claypool, the driving force and only remaining original member of the band, is definitely someone that doesn't take himself too seriously. At least that's what you presume.
Their, or his, ninth album is a concept album heavily dressed in the garments of the stodgiest of seventies prog-rock that is a reflection on the book The Rainbow Goblins by the Italian children's author Ul De Rico. If anyone is reading on past this point then it must be said that The Desaturating Seven is not as utterly dreadful as that sounds.
The main reason for this is the aforementioned musicianship. Like Cardiacs, who are in some ways a great point of reference when concerning Primus, the wild-eyed, Cheshire cat grinning is always underpinned by a plethora of hooks and intricate, though never ego-driven, composition. The two longest tracks on The Desaturating Seven, 'The Trek' and 'The Storm', are perfect examples of this, two complex beasts that showcase the best and worst of prog-rock, celtic folk and funk.
In all, it is music that fans of bands like High Tide and King Crimson might love, but it is also music that people who find them absolutely hideous might find a level of enjoyment in, or if not enjoyment then at least entertainment. Robert Christgau once called Primus “quite possibly the strangest band Top 10 band ever” and whilst they might not even trouble the Top 100 nowadays, they're still plenty strange. Plenty good, too.
