NYS Music 20​12

Tag: progrock

  • Hearing Aide: Dopapod “Redivider”

    Hearing Aide: Dopapod “Redivider”

    Dopapod, the palindrome-inclined quartet from Boston who have risen to quickly become a sought after late-night festival act (their StrangeCreek set in the cabin was a packed funk sauna) and continue to show that their studio work is tandem to their live shows. After Drawn Onward was released in 2011, the next chapter of Dopapod was received with great enthusiasm as they fanned out on tours across the country, unleashing one of the best kept secrets of the Northeast onto the country. Redivider is a powerful follow up that showcases the growth and musical maturity of Dopapod, in addition to a mesh of funk, electronic, jam and progrock genres to appeal to all, especially those who enjoy great music and love to dance their asses off.

    Dopapod RedividerFor starters, there are three short interlude tracks, “Get to the Disc”, “Ooze Weapon” and “Fry the Gorillas” that keep a wonderful flow to the album, something quite welcome that allows for seamless transition between the tracks. Starting off with “Braindead”, the combo of spooky synthesizers and slick guitar licks make for a track reminiscent of Oysterhead. On “Bubble Brain”, Eli Winderman takes the synthesizer through peaks and valleys and even has a hip hop Dr. Dre feel. While there is a progressive nature to the song, building upon each section towards a fantastic ending, I am most curious to see how this structured instrumental will develop live. Crowds will get worked into a frenzy over “Trapper Keeper”; staying organized in grade school was never this rockin’. Rob Compa’s guitar work would make The New Mastersounds proud, Neal ‘Fro’ Evans’ drums drive the song at 75mph, with the mixing in a little electronic twist perfect polish to this funky number. The next two tracks, both instrumentals, “My Elephant vs. Your Elephant” and “Blast”  are intense and soaring, the latter heavy with Rob’s guitar and Chuck Jones’ bass.

    Picture a Nintendo game, the music starting off catchy at first, and then delving into some deep and dirty soul in the first half of the tune. Then, the video-game journey brings you key-led towards an abyss… Once “Vol. 3 #86” lands into a third movement, you have the highlight of the album and an incredible song for dancing. When it comes to late night appearances at festivals, this one will be requested for certain.

    “STADA” has a spooky intro and classic Dopapod sound, while “Give it a Name” is deceptively slow to start, then drops in Soundgarden-heavy spurts amid goofy schizophrenic musical fun. “Weird Charlie” uses playful bass and accordion keys, and things get WEIRD!  An excellent cap to the album, wrapping up great production and great writing by Dopapod.

    If you’ve listened to Dopapod before, you’ll want this album. If you’ve seen them at festival, you’ll be well served buying this album. If you have never listened to Dopapod, what are you waiting for? Come join the party!

    Key Tracks – Bubble Brain, Trapper Keeper, Vol. 3 #86, Give it a Name, Weird Charlie

    Pick up the album at Dopapod.com on December 21st

  • Timbre Coup ‘Knuckles and Valleys’

    Timbre Coup ‘Knuckles and Valleys’

    The third album from Timbre Coup, Knuckles and Valleys, following the release of 2010’s Check Out This, will be released on Thursday, February 23rd on the final night of their month-long residency at Jillian’s of Albany.

    timbre coup knuckles and valleysTwelve tracks for the twelve months of the year, written over the course of 2009, one song each month and gaining the appropriate monthly title as the year progressed. The writing process, as shared by drummer Matt Pickering, “Some songs we tried to capture the mood or feeling of the month in lyrics of music, a couple we just wrote what we were feeling at the time. The mixing on the album reflects how we think the months sound.” The songs have all been played live but for those new to Timbre Coup, they can see how the music portrays the month while existing fans will hear different versions of songs they are already familiar with.

    With tracks as easy as these to name in order, a brief description of what to expect from this impressive junior effort:

    January – There’s some Tool in here, along with a Middle Eastern jazz infusion and dark vocals, inspired by gritty 90s grunge. Great start to the album/year.

    February – A great bass line opens up into a groovy beat, followed by a refrain “This has only just begun” with a mellow sax not unlike “Careless Whisperer.”

    March – Instrumental prog-rock goodness; this could be a soundtrack for a boat adrift at sea, encountering storms and finally placid at the end.

    April – A musical thunderstorm, great lyrics and wonderful guitar work on a hallmark track.

    May – Bass n drums foundation with building guitar licks before a break in the song; the song starts again with more intensity in the second half, growing to great heights. Solid.

    June – A homemade electronic feast without missing a beat, strongest track so far, makes for great dancing; lyrics include ‘Keep it pumpin’ till the night is through, it’s a summer rhythm…’

    July – Spastic guitar propels the tune forward, the arching solos create the melting rhythms.

    August – Another Middle Eastern infusion at the outset, lyrics are celebratory “The day is mine!” as the quartet turn to Mexican influences for an end of summer jam.

    September – An airy trance starts off the ninth track, a purely electronic track from four musicians who create a spooky techno song without needing a laptop; pure musical talent in the month of September.

    October – Harsh and gritty, machine-gun guitar vs. sweep solo guitar.

    November – Indie rock at first, but quickly supplanted by the come-to-expect deep grooves that accent the lyrics and harmony vocals.

    December – Industrial beats mark the beginning, rocking and jamming all the way through. A perfect way to cap off a magnificent album.

    So, what’s your favorite month?

    Key tracks: April, June, September, December