Philadelphia's analog-electronic quintet Lotus get raw on their latest, Escaping Sargasso Sea. A live album, Sargasso is a career snapshot consisting of two discs, the first containing newer compositions and the second digging into Lotus' past. Anchored by another recent release, a remix project called  Copy Paste Repeat: Lotus Remixed, the live album is a sonic representation of the fivesome's dynamic concert experience. Lots of noodling but never extraneous, this record is warmer than studio albums from the group, proving this is a band of musicians, not just sound scavengers. Whereas CPR is full of the manipulations and shaky-shaky of any good electronic album, Sargasso is free-form jazz without the squawks and harsh dissonance.

A rather friendly blend of Lake Trout (think Alone At Last with DJ Who) and Umphrey's McGee, Lotus are most assuredly in a world of their own when stacked against others in their native jam band circuit (Lotus are part of Sci Fidelity, a jam band youth hostel).

Those interested in trying their own had at remixing Lotus should head over to www.lotusvibes.com/remix and get the source files for "Bubonic Tonic" and have a go at it. If you need inspiration, or just want to see the musical madness for yourself, Lotus will be at Recher Theatre in Towson on February 9.

Tags: Album Reviews, Lotus, Philadelphia, Recher Theatre