The Ebb and Flow
"Time to Echolocate" CD
Three Ring Records
Genres: prog rock, indie rock
December 2005 |
Proggy, jammy relaxed rock is the name of the game
here, as The Ebb and Flow combine intelligent pop with
meandering instrumentation and a decent amount of experimentation.
Even though the style of music isn't usually my cup of tea, I'm really
enjoying this record - it's another addictive nugget from the
increasingly impressive Three Ring label. Opener "Sonorous" (a nine-point-five minute epic in two parts) starts things off in a loosey-goosey
pop vein before delving into some strong prog territory. It's nice,
but the shorter "Firefly" and its strangely awesome vocals are more
successful. But "Body and Soul" is the first really impressive song -
its shifty chorus and relaxed but bouncy rhythm make it an
extraordinarily entertaining listen; its got a notable Grateful
Dead influence. After that gem we get a quartet of other songs,
including two psyched out wonders ("Farmer Framed," "Country Verses")
and a couple of melodic indie pop/rock tunes (semi-traditional "See
You in the Fjords" and the daringly oddball "Sweet Southern Harmony").
Overall, Time to Echolocate is seven songs of inventive,
melodic proggish rock that is sure to find a welcoming home in any
eclectic music lover's record collection.
85%
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 8 tracks + 1
hidden, distributed by
the label, released 2005] |
