Cone of Confusion is a genre-defying multicultural project based in Sydney, Australia that combines elements of jazz, progressive rock, psychedelic, fusion, and electronica into its instrumental tunes. The group is back with a new single, “The First Utopian,” from its Unplugged recording session at the end of December 2023.
Earlier this year, the band released a live stripped-back version of another track, “Moon Dust.” The recording session intended to get the four musicians in one room and record spontaneous takes of old songs, with each of them being fully immersed in the moment. You could call these tracks moments of Zen.
“The First Utopian” was originally released in 2022 on Cone of Confusion’s sophomore album, Hominid. Recorded live at Studios 301 in Sydney, the new acoustic rendition offers a stripped-back arrangement of the original composition and captures the essence of the group’s musical camaraderie. The clean arrangements and organic instrumentation provide a fresh perspective on the song and hint at Cone of Confusion’s new musical vision.
Composed by Rémi Marchand, “The First Utopian (Unplugged)” features Jack Garzonio on piano instead of his usual synthesizers, organ, and synth bass. Rémi plays the intro and outro on his childhood nylon string guitar to bring a softer touch than what would’ve been possible with an electric guitar.
For the rest of the composition, Chris Blundell (tenor saxophone) and Rémi avoided their characteristic use of effect pedals, letting the song’s structure shine in its purest and most unadulterated form. Juan Carlos Negrete plays the drums with a gentle and soothing touch of brushes. Additionally, the artwork for the single was meticulously crafted by Rémi, adding visual depth to the auditory journey.
“The First Uptopian (Unplugged)” is a perfect, gentle space jazz that drifts like an interstellar breeze, offering calm and relaxation. If you dig it, check out the rest of Cone of Confusion’s work, including their 2022 LP, Hominid.
Check out “The First Utopian (Unplugged)” by Cone of Confusion on Bandcamp here.
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