Comrades & Friends

15. From Monument to Masses - Comrades and Friends
San Francisco-based From Monument to Masses is well known for creating politically-charged, high intensity music, but the standout track on The Impossible Leap in One Hundred Simple Steps is the reserved "Comrades and Friends." It's a straightforward track that trades in Francis Choung's adroit drumming for an electronic kit, and the rest of the band follows suit. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly makes this an infectious tune. Perhaps it's the sweet melodies, pre haps it's the contrast from the band's exhaustive fusion of styles, or perhaps it's just the simplicity of the track. Whatever may be the case, "Comrades and Friends" is proof that instrumental tracks don't need to be long or complicated to be successful – a little ingenuity works just fine. (Jordan Volz)