New Release: Michael Zapruder – “Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope”

Michael Zapruder’s latest album Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope has been out digitally for quite some time now, but the retail version was just released.

We’ll admit it, upon first listen of Michael Zapruder’s latest album, Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope, we really didn’t get it. There was something special here, but we didn’t quite know what it was.  For some reason we gave it a few more spins and we were rewarded with some real gems.

DCCH strays a bit from the Zapruder’s, normally straight forward, indie folk pop stylings, with attempts to push the limits of song arrangement while keeping things familiar and accessible. Though he sometimes strays too far, there are enough tracks, like opener “Happy New Year” that hit the nail on the head. The song takes you through a chorus-less story, evoking somber visualizations, in the vein of the first half of the The Beatles mighty opus, “A Day In The Life”. Following up “Happy New Year”, “Lucy’s Handmade Paper” is a more standard affair, showcasing Zapruder’s simple yet powerful voice.

The Single “Ads For Feelings” takes it up a notch. A twisting, swirling,  mass of sound that only pushes further into the sky, never letting up until the conclusion of it’s 3 minute, 20 second length. The track is an absolute success that only makes us want to hear more; complete with a psychedelic flute solo.

The only flaw is that the rest of the album has a hard time holding a candle to the genius of the first 3 tracks. The rest of the album is still good, it just feels like it already blew its wad, so to speak. This album makes us very excited to hear what Zapruder has in store for his next album. The ground work has been laid out for something truly special. Check out what we’re talking about below.