Part rock, part jazz and part classical, Hello, Goodbye is all instrumental. In fact, OUiZZZ is billed as a “power jazz trio,” that title fits well. The boundaries between genres are blended and crossed throughout the set, and often within each track. It’s a fine disc for fans of music that lives outside the normal constraints of pop and rock. Although some might think of the Beatles song from the title of the set, actually “Hello” is the opening piece and “Goodbye” serves as the closer, making even the title an intriguing thing.

While some people might be turned away by purely instrumental music, there is plenty to like in this set. Sometimes instrumental music can be tired and redundant. That’s not the case here by any means. This is always interesting and fresh. It’s challenging and yet accessible. It’s just plain good. While the disc won’t be out for a while, it can be pre-ordered here: http://ouizzz.bandcamp.com/album/hello-goodbye or previewed here: https://soundcloud.com/ouizzz/sets/hello-goodbye-september-2012.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012  Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Percussion opens the set at the start of “Hello.” As other instruments join, it’s unclear at first whether the song is going to be a new alternative rock number or something else. Piano creates the central melody as the rhythm section drives the beast. It’s got a lot of rock, but also jazz in the mix. It’s an intriguing cut that doesn’t feel that far removed from a lot of the alternative rock out there in the early sections. As it powers up more it’s perhaps closer to something like Radiohead.