Pescado is a gorgeous progressive-rock-jazz hybrid, in the same spirit as the groundbreaking modern classic The Cherry Thing, but with its very own distinct flavor. The music is an exciting blend of far-reaching sensibilities: The musicians hail from the Chicago-Milwaukee jazz nexus, led by wondrous reedman Ken Vandermark, who arranged Pescado's song cycle. The lead vocalist is the multitalented Adrienne Pierluissi, a painter who wrote all the tunes on Pescado and sings in both English and Spanish. In addition, the group cites inspiration from the album Comicopera by sui generis art-jazz-rocker Robert Wyatt, who among his many talents is renowned for his brutally honest lyrics and his eerily serene voice. Another influence is Tropicalia, a Brazilian musical movement from the 1960s and beyond, which is noted for its atypical time signatures and outside-the-box song structures. And in an embarrassment of riches, the recording also features a poem called "Echoes of Memory" by the great saxophonist Joe McPhee, who reads the lines in slightly off-kilter tandem with Pierluissi.

That's quite a heady brew of musical flavors, and the joy of Pescado is how wonderfully the ingredients blend into something fresh and inspired. The thirteen songs all possess the same immaculate quality: strong melodies with edges that grow sharp or simmer beneath the surface. There's also plenty of minor and major dissonances, as well as abrupt shifts that keep the proceedings unpredictable. Take, for example, the incredibly appealing "April." The tune starts off dreamy and mesmerizing, with Pierluissi's voice lingering like warm caramel, a mood heightened by a beautifully pensive Vandermark solo. Then the song busts out with a funkily urgent 1960s-TV-show groove, which irretrievably fractures the atmosphere into another level. Pierluissi joins in again with punk-vibe vocalizations, and she eventually returns to the original lyrics, which have now lost their wistful quality and are rushing passionately into chaos. It's a marvel of arranging and musicianship, as are all the songs in the cycle.

For anyone who likes The Cherry Thing (and really, what's not to like?), the Margots will come as a welcome member of the same family. Pescado is one of those releases you can't stop listening to, partly because it's so enjoyable and partly because new sounds keep blooming. This is a stunning release � don't miss it.