Bee vs. Moth

Acronyms (Aggraveire)

Take the opening clamor of “Salisbury Steakhouse” into the more subdued mood music of “Now More Than Ever” and “Tuesday in Tuskegee,” and this instrumental quintet’s second and latest is a study in symmetry. Though Bee vs. Moth’s tempos can change on a whim, there’s never a feeling of disarray. In fact, “The Sky and the Dirt Earth” is pure jazz, and “ICP on Parade” (going to assume that doesn’t stand for Insane Clown Posse) takes its time with procession. Conversely, “I Listen to Coffee All Day” makes detours into free-form brass romance, and the excellent “Gor’s Apparatus” comes closest to rocking. Debut Soundhorn (2007) was more the spawn of Elfman, but here the locals move past cartoonish. Saxophone and trumpet make more discreet entrances, the guitar is taut, and there’s poise in the noise.

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This article appears in September 17 • 2010.

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