S/D The Magic Tunnels

The Portals of San Jacinto is generally considered to be the masterpiece.

On their latest album Redefining Space-Time, the anarcho-psych-post-punk-rock Magic Tunnels prove once again to have a particularly fine combination of influence brought to bear. Lead singer Dan Zilge, having recovered from the bottle-brush accident that led their previous CDR What Ho! A Search on the Robodelix label to be regarded in some corners as their worst yet, suddenly turns on the energy in an example of what makes a good band great. Nonetheless, not all is well on Redefining -- an ill-advised bloozejam appears, entitled "My Animal Eats My Face (Oh Mama I Am Recontextualized)," which appears to be a salute to the neo-prog revival championed by the recent Dream Theater coverband phenomenon. Still, "When Hence One Sparkles," which tearfully recalls the recent mining disaster that killed band manager Artemus Pheeb (a colorful survivor of the 90s H.O.R.D.E. roadie squad) and "Burning Down the Burning Road with a Burning Car," a motorik/disco/groove/blip/glitch dancefloor filler that combines ethereal sonic harmonies with a gutbucket raunch attack, shows that the band's trademark focus, as shown in their motto of "Anything that gets us attention by somebody," is well in hand. Secret highlight: the chorus of "If only she hadn't SCRIBBLED ON MY HOMEWORK" on "25 and 8 on 1 (Conor Fucks Up in Texas)," a dub/emo crossover delight.