Once upon a time way back when and a little to the left, there were four dudes from the Netherlands whom collectively agreed on calling themselves the last name of a very famous monkey. These four dudes played an interesting style, comprised of yippy, upbeat instrumental rock/metal that featured sound effects and other abnormalities among the uncertainty that Kong forged. After some albums from a legacy often unknown, Kong hung up the straight-jacket and was declared no longer insane...that is, until Kong returned once again after so many years of absence. Well, if you know anything about the band, you've probably seen three-quarters of Kong's lineup haven't returned with Mark Drillich, the only long-running member that appears on the band's first record in many moons. "What it Seems is What You Get" is nevertheless exactly what you get from what you see: Kong in purest form. The record itself starkly provides several compositions that are well-endowed with genius instrumentation, harping hooks, memorable grooves, and the signature weirdness that made Kong a classic within the cult all those years ago.
The one thing that really made Kong perhaps the most valuable instrumental faction around was the sound they generated together: music that appeared totally catchy and fun, yet layered in technicality and off-beat patterns that garnished a razing result once the total sound was mandated by the listener. "What it Seems is What You Get" is essentially a continuation of this appearance, as most of its tunes are basically covered into Kong's basic genetics. The album generally feels like a natural offering, almost like Kong never split and simply continued to scribe goofy and strange hieroglyphics instead of calling it a day.
With that being said, the riffs and sections provided throughout this monumental effort reflect just that, whether it be with a mid-paced bass tinker crawling underneath the chaos or some catchy riffs layered over a sample of some sort. I know that description doesn't cover the album's whole overview, but that's essentially the bones of this album. I'd like to add every track is different in its own way - another Kong motif - through different textures, instrumental processes...you know the drill. However, the direction taken doesn't yield a negative punch upon the record, simply because Kong's newly-found chemistry causes the resulting compositions to hold the expected substance Kong fans have come to love. "Change 2012" and "Tenfold Right" are easily some of the top trophies created under the banner of Kong, so there's no doubt at all they still got it.
Although the direction may seem a trifle strange or dull for some, Kong can manipulate this audio horizon with profiling power that really takes the album beyond its seemingly-bland origin. Enjoying a Kong album definitely requires unusual taste buds beyond the spicing and seasoning typically layered throughout progressive rock/metal groups and those venturing into completely instrumental voids, so if you're familiar with the group, or just want something easier to swallow that takes some muscle digesting, make "What it Seems is What You Get" one to pick up. You'll be picking pieces of your brain up off the floor for listens to come.