Before you go on expecting what to hear from Pushmipulyu, a new signing for Interchill, Canada's temple of all things pyschedelic, ambient, dub and well, chill, make sure you stop and listen. Pushmipulyu and their debut album "133 Thursdays" aren't what you think. Even within each song their music seemingly becomes something it initially wasn't. The phenomenon is very much in keeping with the two-headed animal of Doctor Doolittle fame that insired their name...expect elements of several genres from jazz, lounge, and funk, to ambient and dub.

1. Take Two More
2. Wears The Summer?
3. Mr. Jelly
4. Syzygy
5. Wake You
6. Hyde Park Fauna
7. Cushion
8. Reverie
9. Surreal State
10. Some Things Just Make You Want To Cry

Despite the backgrounds of its members, Michael Dog and Steve Rowlands, known best for their work in the realms of ambient dub, chillout and trance, as well as dub-tinged electronica (respectively), the sound of this album is definitely something else.

There are strong lounge notes throughout 133 Thursdays, from the unabashed use of vibes to the jazzy foundation of the grooves. At the same time, dub production styles find their way in, though most of the time the fit is so seamless you hardly notice it.

From the first track entitled "Take Two More" you're immediately introduced to the duo's duality and depth of experimentation (also see, freedom). What begins as an unassuming piece of slightly funky jazz, backed by the kind of Latin jazz percussion Nicola Conte has used to extraordinary effect, is joined by an absolutely unexpected and strange African tribal like vocal that gets mixed with some nice horn work for an altogether mind-bending listen.

That track is followed by "Wears The Summer?". This one starts off like you're going to get hit by some smooth deep house bass kicks, but instead, keeps it all on the down and mellow, producing an enormously relaxing lounge groove. Something in me feels like I've heard this one in other similar forms, but I can't put a finger on it.

Many of the remaining tracks like "Syzygy" and "Cushion" drop a similar lounged out style, but around "Hyde Park Fauna" is when really start hearing some Pushmilpulyu's funk ways...big horns, breakbeats, and way out there keys.

For long-time followers of Interchill's ambient-psychedelic side, the only cuts here to keep the faith strong are "Reverie" and "Surreal State". Though the last song, "Some Things Just Make You Cry" will probably keep your fractals grinning as it's a bit of a mash up of all the various influences the duo dropped in the other 9 songs on the ablum.

Not at all what I expected to hear and yet it still fits nicely in the scope of the Interchill library of sounds. Pushmipulyu are a pleasant surpise.

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