Gustavo Leone: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2/...

If Pitchfork magazine hired a gang of mischievous jesters to write their music reviews, then surely they would come up with something as delightfully bonkers as QARTE STRING QUARTET's latest release, "Leonestring Quartets Nos 1 2." From the moment you press play, you are whisked away on a rollercoaster of musical pandemonium. The QARTE STRING QUARTET don't just play their instruments, they wrestle with them, cajole them, and whisper sweet nothings in their ear. The result is a cacophony of sound that is equal parts genius and madness. The first track, "String Quartet No. 1," is like being thrown into a room filled with hyperactive squirrels armed with tiny violins. It's chaotic, it's nonsensical, and it's utterly brilliant. The way the quartet weaves in and out of frenzied melodies is a sight (or rather, sound) to behold. "String Quartet No. 2" takes things up a notch, with the quartet careening through a musical landscape that is equal parts whimsical and perplexing. At times, it feels like the instruments are engaged in a heated argument, only to suddenly come together in perfect harmony. In the end, "Leonestring Quartets Nos 1 2" is a wild and wonderful ride that is not for the faint of heart. But if you're willing to embrace the madness, you'll be rewarded with a musical experience unlike any other.