Wippy Bonstack; great name huh? It may not surprise you to learn that it’s made up, as a name for the solo work of Ben Conigulario, a hugely talented multi-instrumentalist and composer. He has a number of band projects, (Sun Colored Chair, Wyxz, The Filibuster Saloon), but it is as Wippy Bonstack that he really allows his musical personality free rein.
Tactile Demons is his third album, and the first to be entirely instrumental. Although he has a number of guest musicians, on strings and woodwind mainly, most of what you hear is Wippy who plays a bewildering array of instruments with the utmost precision and speed. His compositions are stunningly complex and technically demanding, yet contain hooks of sorts, often repeated for effect, and passages of strange melodic charm. It’s pretty obvious from the off that Mr Bonstack has been heavily influenced by Zappa; there are little references all over the place, trade mark arpeggios and phrases styled very much in a Frank mode. Having said that, this is indisputably his own creation, and it’s frankly stunning.
Opening piece, the title track, reminds me of parts of Steve Vai’s Fire Garden Suite, but probably the parts Steve rejected as being too perverse. At first it seems too much, so many things happening in a rush, it threatens to overwhelm the listener. But as it settles down, there is a logical flow to the track, lots of memorable phrases and touches, moments of respite and changes in mood. After a couple of listens, it starts to make sense. It almost sounds like a rock tone poem, with aspects which are modern classical in origin. It’s also very clear that Wippy has a sense of humour; there are several moments where I had to laugh out loud at the absurdity of the music. It’s serious music, but also seriously fun to listen to. The Walking Glass Shrimp for example is a scat jazz interlude, funny yet technically flawless in execution, and a joy to hear.
The centrepiece of the album is the near twenty-two minute finale, Billiards of Pit. Sonia Susi plays some gorgeous violin, and many of the themes are punctuated by bassoon (Joey Lavarius), sax (John Rokicki) and trumpet (Andres Ollari) adding immeasurable extra depth and texture to an already overflowing palette of sounds. Tricky time signatures switch several times in a few bars, heavy guitar passages tumble into gentle piano interludes, then an impossibly fast section with furious acoustic guitar and keys melts into a dreamy fog before we gallop off again. Whether Wippy can actually play this stuff in real time I honestly don’t know, some of it sounds impossible. Overall though, the piece somehow hangs together, multiple listens revealing new previously unheard treasures. Trying to take it all in can be exhausting, but once you forget that and just enjoy it as it washes over you and rushes past, like a breathless musical cavalcade, Tactile Demons reveals itself to be a living work of art.
This album won’t be for everyone, I know. It’s kaleidoscopic density and complexity will be too much for some, but for those willing to persevere, it’s ultimately a fantastically rewarding listen, and a jaw-dropping achievement. I thoroughly recommend giving it a try.
TRACK LISTING
01. Tactile Demons (8:33)
02. Addy’s Homeplate (5:57)
03. Rings (4:23)
04. The Walking Glass Shrimp (2:03)
05. Barren Swords (3:53)
06. Billiards Of Pit (21:54)
Total Time – 46:45
MUSICIANS
Wippy Bonstack – Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Drums, Bass, Piano, Analog Synth, Keyboards, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Percussion
~ With:
John Rokicki – Tenor Sax (1,2 & 6)
Joey Lavarias – Bassoon (1,2 & 6)
Elizabeth Smiland – Flute (2,3 & 6)
AJ Hudson – Xylophone (1 & 6)
Sonia Susi – Violin (2 & 6)
Matt Stober – Cello (3 & 5)
Andres Ollari – Trumpet (6)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: USA
Date of Release: 1st August 2025
LINKS
Wippy Bonstack (Ben Coniguliaro) – Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram
