Music has taken many odd, but welcomed, twists and turns over the years. Combining two or more genres into one is no new feat, but sometimes experimentation leads to roads that are destined to pave the way for future sounds to find birth. Sidony Box, to me, is one such sand.

The band consists of an Alto Sax, Guitar, and Drums combination that, when all shaken and stirred, is an interesting Jazz concept that blends facets of Metal, Jazz, and Noise Rock into one interesting conglomeration of dishes. While Jazz is the core root of the album, you’ll be surprised how all of these types of sounds capes fit together.

While I did end up enjoying the album on my fourth go round it’s not such an easy album to grasp. There’s that whole, getting over the concept, bit that tests your patience from the start. For example, the title track, which starts the album off, is a little over a minute and a half of pure noise. If you’re a Jazz fan your going to find little bits and piece of interconnecting noises in the mix, but if you’re not prepare for what’s about to happen, you may want to reach for that aspirin. It’s like listening to three different performances happening all at the same time.

As the song levels out at about 1:38, the band starts to kick in with a slightly more coherent tune and it’s here where the band dips in and out of their various styles, progressing from a Jazzy hi-tempo sound with metal guitar intertwined. It’s a real, “What’s going on here?” vibe, but to quote the film The Legend of 1900, “When you don’t know its is, that’s Jazz.”

Following is Girafe, one of the two ten minute plus tracks that starts off with a repetitive guitar, what sounds like eating utensils tapping ever so slightly against dinner plates. Sax comes in on a soft note followed by drums. I had to get used to the repetitiveness of the guitar which stays steady even when the track breaks into drum and sax tangents.

Nocturnum follows with a super relaxed sound that sounds a bit like the closing track for the album in various ways, but it has a bit more pick up, if you can call it pickup in such a relaxing song like this.

Dark Wizard comes very close to repeating the formula that starts the album off. It’s a bit all over the place and there is a dose of unbearable feedback but it somehow reminded me of Black Flags Family Man album with its insanely off sounding Jazz Punk, and album I liked. In short though, the majority of the song has some elements that will put some listeners off.

If Dark Wizard is the only track off the album that truly will send some listeners over the edge when Electric Love is probably the one that will draw them in. It’s about as radio friendly as your going to get with the album. Personally I thought it was clean and ready to be shown off to the mainstream, but this isn’t really an album you listen to if you’re looking for safe.

Salsa was my favorite song on the album. The guitar made it a bit odd at first but it totally reminded me of those hard boiled detective noir films. My mind went on a trip with this one. Chinatown with Jack Nicholson comes to mind for some reason or Elmore Leonard’s Glitz (the novel, not the made for TV movie starring Jimmy Smits which I’ve never seen).

Up next you have Gotham followed by Block Party. Block Party totally has a celebratory sound to it. I can imagine people jumping around and dancing to this track.

The final track, Ambre, is a more laid back tune with a new age feel to it. A sax lead track with the slight sound of light drum intervals and a dreamy guitar playing just over what sounds like wind chimes. Do not operate heavy machinery while listening. It’s so relaxing and smooth.

All in all it’s not a perfect outing, at least it wasn’t for me. There’s a lot to get used to with this bands sound, but that’s just Jazz. You can take some or you could leave some. I did love the experimentation of the bands overall sound. I’d like to see a cleaner approach to the metal meets Jazz aspect that seemed to be all over the map here. Still, well worth exploring if you’re a Jazz fan looking for something off the beaten path. Enjoy.