Intuit (Bonus Track Version)

iTunes Review

Ramona Falls is a solo project by Brent Knopf, who is also a member of the experimental indie rock band Menomena. Though he did write all the songs and played multiple instruments, Knopf didn’t create Intuit alone. He worked with 35 different musicians — including Mirah, Janet Weiss, and members of the Helio Sequence, Loch Lomond, and Talkdemoni — and that collaborative spirit infuses nearly everything here. It’s a complex album packed with many ideas and intriguing overlapping parts; filled with quirky melodies and unorthodox arrangements the songs morph quickly as on the haunting and unsettling “I Say Fever,” with its crunchy textures and loud-soft dynamic, or the brooding and tense “Russia,” which starts with an acoustic guitar figure and then builds into epic territory. Elsewhere, there are stirring string parts, sharp use of piano and other keyboards, strong harmony singing, and excellent percussion throughout. On Intuit, Knopf has expertly brought together many moving parts to craft a cohesive album that represents a creative identity quite separate from his work with Menomena.