 (1981) indicates the rough-hewn melodic rock direction Almaas would later pursue.After working with The Bongos, Almaas, along with Bongos' leader Richard Barone, headed to North Carolina to visit Mitch Easter at his Drive-In Studio; the three of them put together the four-track "Beat Rodeo" EP, credited to Almaas and released in 1982 on Easter's Coyote Records label.