At seven members strong and with a sound that falls somewhere on the more rockin’ side of the post-punk world, AFICIONADO strike me as a surprisingly cohesive unit that brings together the best of In/Casino/Out AT THE DRIVE-IN and the theatrical/carnival-addled WORLD INFERNO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY. With a dazzling array of angular guitars, dramatic keyboards. trumpet and flute, and the strong dual vocals of Nick Warchol and Laura Carrozza, the group has a lot of moving parts to its sound. If an undertaking of this caliber goes wrong, the result is essentially a cast of wandering minstrels. Fortunately, AFICIONADO seem to have a deliberate vision in mind and this five song, 20 minute EP sets the table for the band’s devices. Two things really stick out about When It Comes To Creation – 1) I never realized how much I like hearing the flute in rock music; and (2) having Don Fury record your music makes everything sound incredibly clear, which isn’t any easy task with so many shifting elements (including three guitars and some brain candy keyboards). AFICIONADO’s music is unique and skilled and the band’s abundant talent should draw plenty of notice.

No Sleep Records

Note: this version has been edited from an earlier form.