Essential Montage
Posted August 26, 2008
By IronJedi,
Arizona-based up-and-comer Vertical Shift Records (VSR) have recently partnered with distribution powerhouse EMI to get their roster of artists distributed to a broader, musically rapacious audience. And while the marketing push of VSR has been behind bands Ever Stays Red and Re:Zound; the third band in their stable of artists have quietly and without a lot of fanfare, put together an impressive debut. With Mosaic Soul, soon to be re-titled and released nationally as What I Can’t See, Out of Ruin delivers an attention-grabbing entry into the modern rock / alternative musical scene.
Gram Messer’s strong, emotion-tinged vocals, evoke comparison to Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine. Messer transitions between a smooth, practiced delivery (“Broken Pieces,” “Lifting Me,” etc.) to a raw rasp for the more musically aggressive cuts (“Stand for Something,” & “Man to Be”). When the album’s tempo slows (“What I Can’t See,” “Spirit,” etc.) he shifts to a subdued, almost elegiac tone.
Musically, the band draws from and adeptly combines a broad range of influences. Injecting hints of 70’s pop/rock & psychedelia, a dash of the 90’s Northwest Pacific sound and grounding it in contemporary acoustic guitar–piano driven pop/ rock sensibilities, allows Out of Ruin to enliven, without overpowering, their distinctive sound. There’s even a fun instrumental piece (“Alimente El Corazón”) towards the end of the album that is a rockin’ fusion of Otmar Lieber’s neo-flamenco style and Satch’s modern guitar wizardry.
There is quite a bit of talent in this band. All eleven cuts of What I Can’t See were co-written by the brothers Messer, with background vocalist and keyboardist Ken Mary contributing to five, adding to the cohesiveness of this project. Poetic verse, affecting vocals, outstanding musicianship and strong arrangements help deliver a well-crafted modern rock montage.
What I Can’t See / Mosaic Soul is a fantastic debut – a talented group of guys who’ve created terrific music. Out of Ruin will appeal to fans of modern rock bands Future of Forestry, Lost Ocean, Mae, Sevenglory, Inkwells, Waking Ashland and Between the Trees. View All Music And Book Reviews By IronJedi | View IronJedi's Profile
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