KTU's Quiver hits the mark and keeps on going

Album cover for KTU's "Quiver" (2009).

KTU, a band known among denizens of the progressive rock community as one of King Crimson alumni Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn's many side projects, will indubitably go down in music history as having accomplished the impossible: making the accordion sound good.

The credit for that doesn't belong to either of the aforementioned, however. After all, they're just the rhythm section (although using the word "just" is most definitely unjust--Mastelotto and Gunn are masters at their instruments). The real star of KTU (pronounced K2) is Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen, a guy who embodies the definition of the word visionary in both concept and execution.

On the band's new album "Quiver", Pohjonen uses processing and effects (in addition to plain versatility) to make his instrument sing, scream and sometimes wail--he's like the Jimi Hendrix of accordion players, and as ridiculous as that may seem, it's something that has to be heard to be believed. His style of playing ranges from subdued and melodic to outright chaotic and dare devilish, resulting in a sonic experience that's difficult to categorize and impossible to forget. With Mastelotto and Gunn providing ample ballsy backbone, Pohjonen turns his talent loose on 11 solid tracks that, in the end, act as evidence that even an instrument like the accordion can be made to stretch musical boundaries when in the hands of the right person.

Mastelotto, a veteran drummer who's worked with more bands than he probably should (one glance at his resume makes you wonder when he finds the time to sleep), is in peak form. An inspiration to noisemakers the world over, Mastelotto is one of a rare breed of drummers who have found more success on their own than with their previous bands (he was a member of Mr. Mister in the 80s and later joined prog rock giants King Crimson filling the enormous shoes of Bill Bruford). His years of experience pounding skins and electronic pads lends KTU an inimitable knife edge, and is the difference that's ultimately led many to compare KTU with stylistic predecessors like King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Gunn, who has also worked with Mastelotto and Crimson in the past, is a world-class musician whose instrument of choice--the Warr Guitar, a strange looking instrument that's manipulated by tapping the strings instead of strumming them, and has the capacity to double as bass or electric guitar--gives KTU that "extra push over the cliff" in the area of uniqueness.

Also adding their talents to "Quiver" are Samuli Kosminen (of MuM, on voice samples) and Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree, offering his considerable mixing abilities). The band is currently on tour in support of the new album, and information about both can be found on the band's website.