Ultra Payloaded
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In 2005, ex-Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros frontman Perry Farrell unveiled his new experimental dance-rock concept collective with a Lollapalooza performance featuring No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal, Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt and world-music percussionist Gabriele Corocs.
Two years and much fine-tuning later, Bettencourt, Farrell and his backing vocalist/wife Etty Lau (in addition to drummer Kevin Figueiredo and bassist Carl Restivo) expand on their far-flung, highly eclectic musical-in-the-making with an album boasting heavy digital beats, underground optimism and a storyline concerning a flash-mob group called The Solutionists, whose leader meets a nurse after he is beaten by cops. One night the two are transported via his hospital radio to a winking star, where Jim Morrison hosts a free-for-all Satellite Party.
Members of The Black Eyed Peas, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Thievery Corporation and Joy Division appear, as does Mr. Morrison’s beyond-the-grave drone courtesy of The Doors’ unreleased “Woman in the Window.” Additional highlights include the ’70s-spacey “Mr. Sunshine,” the sweetly muted “Awesome” and the skittery-stringed, slow-burning “The Solutionists.” There’s a lot to admire here, not least of all Farrell’s ambition and the serious statements underlying the campy, irreverent fantasy, but overall Payloaded feels a bit unfettered and work-in-progress. Here’s hoping a full-blown Satellite Party stage experience isn’t far behind to lend some weight. - Julie Seabaugh