Hasco Enjoyments' "Wow!" (Rope Worm, 18 January 2025) is an album that invites you to step into a parallel universe where discount hot dogs and decorative wax fruit are the ultimate symbols of existential joy. From the opening track, "It's OK To Put Ketchup On A Hot Dog, If That's What You Like To Eat", we are greeted by a soundscape that’s like a bizarre, pastel-colored fever dream - one where you feel oddly at home, like you've always been sitting in the bleachers at a baseball game, watching the world go by as coupons flutter in the breeze.

This release, recorded across various spots like Los Angeles, Melbourne, Seattle, and Toronto (talk about global eclecticism), feels like a sonic road trip through the absurdities of modern life. There’s an atmosphere of playful confusion, as if Hasco Enjoyments threw a musical party where everyone from David Pajo to Trey Magnifique showed up, each bringing their own weirdness to the table. The album is the soundtrack to the evening after the guests have all gone home, where the conversation still lingers, and you’re left wondering what just happened.

The instruments used here are far from conventional - baritone guitars, synthesizers, and saxophones are joined by a flute that flutters in and out like a ghost at a mid-century dinner party. The delightful abstract ballad of "Sprouse Reitz" and the delightfully odd "Armed Only With The Jagged Shard Of An Ortega Brand Taco Shell" offer unexpected bursts of creativity, where even the titles tell you everything and nothing at the same time.

There’s an air of relaxed surrealism in the way "Wow!" manages to stay both gently experimental and breezily fun. Resembling some stuff by Air, the track "The Seattle Mariners Are My Favorite Baseball Team" stands out with its dreamlike blend of soft synths and percussion, gently gliding like an out-of-focus snapshot of a lazy afternoon. "Executive Bonus" takes this further, with a hypnotic saxophone weaving in and out, offering just enough mystery to keep you on your toes. Meanwhile, "Sometimes My Dad Is An Eagle" feels like the kind of abstract, yet somehow relatable, sound that would play in an avant-garde movie about a person who spends too much time contemplating the significance of condiment choices at a baseball game.

Throughout "Wow!", Hasco Enjoyments reminds us that even in a world filled with bizarre soundscapes and tongue-in-cheek humor, there’s something deeply human about the experience of simple pleasures - and, yes, even ketchup on hot dogs.

There’s a poetic edge to this album’s playful critique of modernity, as it taps into the absurdity of consumer culture, captured in tracks like "Finance, Fashion, Healthcare & Sports". The inclusion of so many different musicians (including BÄr McKinnon on flute and Nick Reinhart on guitar) further elevates the charm, creating a patchwork of sounds that feel both random and meticulously crafted.

In the end, "Wow!" is a record for those who can appreciate the humor in everyday oddities while diving headfirst into a world where the bizarre and the familiar co-exist in perfect harmony. As you listen, just know that even if you don’t fully understand what’s happening, you’re still in for an experience. Perhaps, like a good hot dog at a baseball game, it’s not about making sense - it’s about savoring the moment. And "Wow!", what a moment it is.