Josh Reichman Oracle Band - Life Is Legal CD EP Review (Paper Bag Records)

Shape shifter Josh Riechman is back with a new band, Josh Riechman Oracle Band, and a new EP that was released last month on Paper Bag Records. The freak-folk sounds of Reichman's previous project, Jewish Legend, are mostly gone and the new EP, Life Is Legal, moves Reichman's sound into something comparable to late-period T.Rex (Bolan's Zip Gun era) or 70's-era Stevie Wonder. One of the standout tracks from the EP is "Plant Words", which is streaming on Reichman's MySpace page (link below).

This EP has a locked-on bass and drums funk groove which is complemented by garage-rock keyboard on some of the tracks. Reichman hasn't totally abandoned the freak-folk sounds as there are some odd twists and turns in the music along with the use of flute, sax and other woodwind instruments.

The Life Is Legal EP is a precursor to a full length disc that will be released in March '09. Josh is touring the US next month with Sebastien Grainger (former drummer/singer from Death From Above 1979). Sebastien is touring with a new band, Sebastien Granger and The Mountains, and the band released its debut disc last month on Saddle Creek Records.

Local tour stops are:
Dec 2 2008 8:00PM, Union Hall, Brooklyn, NYC
Dec 3 2008 8:00PM, Mercury Lounge, New York NY

Links:
Josh Reichman's MySpace Profile