I can imagine conversations where the folks in Madison, WI’s Cause and Control attempt to describe their music. It’s “rock” for sure, but not like, predictable. “Alternative,” yeah. Definitely influenced by decades of “Indie.” Any and all of those tags that don’t really describe a musical approach so much as offer a catch-all. Which is pretty accurate – Cause and Control catch all kinds of styles on their second ep Locus of Control. There are traces of punk, grunge, & emo, but also jazz, world, fusion, bossa nova, & jam band noodlery. Like a whatchagot stew of influences and approaches that somehow turns out dang tasty, even if you don’t know what’s in it.

That isn’t meant to suggest these players – mostly relying on the traditional instruments of guitars, bass, drums and vocals – are trying out random things at random times. Each song is built around definitive ideas, burrowing into a mode and then exploding that mode with sudden deviations. Rather than jarring the listener, these juxtapositions are rooted and intuitive, like a creek gathering speed before plunging into a waterfall, eddying in the pool created by its own force, then resuming its natural flow. Every song is a refreshing ride.

Opener “Same Mistakes” begins with some jangly discordant rock. Propulsive melodies and rhythmic nuance drive the song in a manner reminiscent of Polvo, but a clear and confident vocal delivery offers a whiff of Steely Dan in there too – cemented by some nifty guitar soloing. Then the bridge goes to a dark and heavy trudge like the Meat Puppets took control to steer the song home.  Second track “Paved” comes out surprising with Herbie Hancock-esque world-funk accompaniment. Chirpy flutes and bongos set the stage for a bop-core verse. This masterful mayhem continues across the ep. One may detect the influence of fellow Madisonians Disq, who also specialize in normalizing sudden stylistic shifts. It’s not surprising to learn that the ep was produced by a member of that band, and they’ve done an excellent job.

The recording is full of energy. Nothing sounds overworked despite a LOT of activity from each of the instruments. Subtle things like a bright tambourine undergirding sludgy guitars make heavier moments speed along. And despite each song sounding pretty different (songs are sung by different vocalists, each of them charming and capable, but still very distinct), the overlapping styles cohere into a singular stylistic identity – even if there isn’t a name for it. The songwriting, performances, and production all work together to make sure nothing ever delves into gimmick. This is a bunch of skilled musicians following the amusement of the muse. Locus of Control is un-precious, unpretentious, and really brave music pulled off with 100% commitment.