Kev Hopper

Saurus continues in the style of Kev Hopper's 2000 release, Whispering Foils, offering his willowy, expressive saw as the anchor for arrangements incorporating anything from lilting acoustic guitars and flatulent brass ("Tiny Flowers") to glitchy laptop percussion backgrounds and treated basslines ("Soulkeepers"). Though it's brief at under a half hour, the EP manages to paint each corner with mood and even warmth. This isn't "experimental" music to scare people away -- only to invite them into the sound of an exciting left-field instrument. Hopper takes the mike for "You're a Delicacy," while "The Fairy Lawn" is a eight-plus minute extravaganza of xylophone, cracked keyboards, Hopper's saw, and the lush vocals of Kelsey Michael. It's like Tortoise meets the blue ox. Highly recommended. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide