Population Override shows off still another side of the enigmatic virtuoso Buckethead.

In the past, he seemed to sway between seriously heavy metal (like Cuckoo Clocks of Hell), more contemplative works (like Electric Tears), and drum'n'bass or electronica-influenced albums (like Day of the Robot and Bermuda Triangle).

Featuring Travis Dickerson on keys and Pinchface on drums (and Buckethead on guitars and basses), Population Override is as close to an instrumental early Funkadelic album as almost anyone has gotten (think "Maggot Brain).

These are actually tunes, not just riffing showcases, and Buckethead plays with an astonishing sense of depth and feeling; there are very few of his trademark hyperspeed licks.

"Unrestrained Growth" uses a riff close to "Cosmic Slop," and "Too Many Humans" evokes the same melancholy that Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" does.

"A Day Will Come" adds a bit more crunch to the guitar, while "Humans Vanish" is a delicate solo guitar piece, and he finishes with a pretty straight blues on "...." All in all, this is Buckethead's most consistent, enjoyable work, with great playing and almost none of the flash he has displayed on previous releases.

Excellent.