Psychojazz mavens Stratospheerius bring their violin influenced jams out in full on their latest release Head Space. Blending their influences into a style all their own, Stratospheerius make music that teeters on becoming its own genre. Part Dave Matthews Band, part modern rock and part classical, Head Space bounces from sound to sound with total ease. The violin playing by veteran Joe Deninzon opens up the dynamic of Stratospheerius with total urgency and takes what may at first seem like normal rock songs to an entirely higher level. However, it is not just the violen that makes Head Space a great experience. The vocal performance of Joe Deninzon is on par with his stringed abilities. This is most apparent on Head Space’s far and away hit track Today Is Tomorrow. This track still features Deninzon’s trademark strings, but he holds off on bowing them and instead plucks the strings for the first half of the song. Today Is Tomorrow also shows off the bands ability to craft a radio friendly song and one that still operates perfectly within the context of the album.

Opening track New Material is an interesting song to start off Head Space with. The song at first seems very Rocky Grass and a listening that does not penetrate the album may not get passed it if they are not a fan of the genre. However, as Head Space progresses, it reveals the many different sides of Stratospheerius. New Material shows a more roots rock and bluegrass influenced sound, Old Ghosts shows off the bands summer fest jam band appeal, and Today Is Tomorrow takes the band and puts them right into the best parts of the mainstream. On Mental Floss, Deninzon shows how he has earned the nickname the “Jimi Hendrix of violin?as he tears threw a distortion heavy solo that points more in the direction of Guns N Roses?Slash than Yo Yo Ma. The other effected instruments on Mental Floss give Head Space a great push in the psychedelic direction, adding to the long list of the bands genre leaping abilities. Head Space is an exciting experience, taking the listener by the hand and whipping them around an Alice In Wonderland like journey of musical exploration.
Justin Scro