The night after Deerhoof opened for the Plastic Ono Band, Deerhoof member Greg Saunier joined Sean Lennon onstage for an improvised performance which served as the basis for Mystical Weapons. Carrying over the anything-goes free jazz rules of that first performance to their debut record, Mystical Weapons, the duo sound alternately inspired and completely insane. Utilizing a vast array of musical instruments the pair conjure up noises that frequently unsettle and occasionally inspire.
The record opens with somewhat of a false start with hushed piano before being torn to shreds by the unexpected entrance of a snare roll, heavy electric guitar, and a bed of synthesizers. That first track, “Impossible Shapes”, is the highlight of a wildly uneven record and reveals this pairing has much more potential than this record demonstrates. It’ll be fun seeing if they return to try and best the heights of their main projects.