Empty Space Orchestra: "Exit Strategy"

Empty Space Orchestra is a Bend, Oregon-based space-prog-fusion (feel free to add any number of additional hybrid genres here) quintet composed of classically trained musicians. ESO's self-titled new album — a nine-song, 50-minute, jam-filled harmonic exploration — doesn't come out until May 10, but today ALARM presents an exclusive track to whet your appetite.

The song, "Exit Strategy," builds to truly fierce heights as guitars, horns, and pianos pile atop one another like precariously placed Jenga pieces. Just when you think that the center cannot possibly hold, ESO reels things back in with an abrupt tempo change. After you check out the track above, hop over to YouTube and watch a surprisingly high-quality video of ESO performing "Exit Strategy" at the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend right here.

The forthcoming Empty Space Orchestra was recorded with engineer Robert Cheek, known for his work with Deftones and Tera Melos, and mixed by Matt Bayles, who's worked with Mastodon and Isis, among others.

[Have you pre-ordered yet? Don't miss our limited-time offer, saving up to 38%, for Chromatic: The Crossroads of Color and Music, our next book that profiles independent musicians and artists who explore color in unorthodox ways.]

Deftones – "Sextape" (Official)

Deftones | MySpace Music Videos

Calexico

Jimmy Carl Black, the original drummer of Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention, has passed away at the age of 70 after a fight with lung cancer.

All Tomorrow's Parties has announced a new festival, scheduled for May 15-17, 2009 in Minehead. The fest will be curated by The Breeders and tickets are already on sale.

In other ATP news, '90s doom-metal group Sleep will reunite to play the series' next festival in Minehead, taking place earlier in May of 2009.

Interested parties can watch a free streaming video of Calexico's Southwestern folk from a 23-song performance in Amsterdam.

Genre-leaping identical twins and instrumentalists Nels Cline (guitar: Nels Cline Singers, Wilco) and Alex Cline (drums/percussion: The Alex Cline Ensemble, Tim Berne) are each releasing a solo album on Cryptogramophone on February 10, 2009. Follow the link for a sample track from each.

Technically assailing math-metal Relapse artists Dysrythmia have booked shows for February with labelmates Tombs.

Hard-hitting Brooklyn trio Goes Cube will have a limited-edition EP for sale on its upcoming Midwest and East Coast tour dates, some of which are paired with ALARM cover favorites Dub Trio.

Unsigned jam/groove duo Family Order has made all of its excellent upcoming album available for free download.

Funky jazz guitarist Will Bernard has begun a handful of West Coast tour dates with his trio.

Deftones bassist Chi Cheng is hospitalized and in serious condition after being involved in a car accident.