Don't let the title fool you: Three Improvisations on Modified Banjo is about as far from Deliverance as you can possibly get. While most people who play the banjo can be lumped into the vast "roots music" catchall, in Paul Metzger's hands the instrument sounds like it originated a long way away from the rural American South. Of course, that's to be expected, given that Metzger's modified banjo sports more than a dozen strings and a sitar bridge.

Despite the additions, Three Improvisations... sounds oddly familiar. It's nothing like that most reliable roots reference point, the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, but there are traces of Middle Eastern, Indian and Chinese music in these three tracks that will sound familiar to anyone whose musical interests extend beyond North America. The first untitled track, for example, wouldn't have sounded out of place scoring a solemn, rain-soaked battle in a Zhang Yimou film, while the third track (also untitled) is an odd hybrid of Indian and Western music. Understanding the music's cultural context isn't essential to enjoying it, but it helps you understand Metzger's intentions.

Unfortunately, the creative process behind Three Improvisations on Modified Banjo is the most interesting thing about it. Metzger is certainly adept at making the most of his modified banjo, but by the end of these three songs, you'll wonder why he modified it in the first place -- especially if his goal was simply to emulate music created by other cultures. He'll have to answer that question next time around; there aren't any clues here.