Brian & Chris - s/t
(This)
Brian and Chris' self-titled debut album is a melange of musical styles.
Jazz, post rock, folk, electronic,... each song on the album is an altogether
different ride.
The song "March to the Sea" opens the album and may mislead the listener
as to what Brian (ex-Tractor Hips) and Chris (ex-Joby's Opinion) are up to.
The song is a fairly standard (yet epic and, importantly, rockerly) post-rock
song, similar to work by bands like Pelé (recent releases) or
State River
Widening. However, the song would, no doubt, be a standout on albums by either
of those bands. The song starts with subtle interplay between acoustic
guitar and bass, combined with electric guitar and keyboard (both normal
and odd sounding) that seep in and out, which dominates the first 4 and a half
minutes of the song. The song eventually quiets before restarting louder
and fuller, which quickly gains momentum allowing
the rock band hiding inside to finally be unleashed,
bursting through the seams.
The song "Undone Undine" starts with softly spoken vocals and a plucked,
repetitive, droning acoustic guitar part reminiscent of John Fahey or Gastr
del Sol. The strumming builds to a crescendo before bass, drums, and other
instruments join in, creating a fuller sound to back the acoustic guitarist
as he continues to pluck away. After several minutes, all the instruments
fade away, and all that is left is a sustained organ note. Then, before you
know it, the song has become a hoedown! A quickly plucked acoustic guitar
(more likely a banjo) dominates the sound, backed by another acoustic guitar,
a rolling snare drum, and other percussion.
Guest musician John Ingle adds tenor sax to three songs, and all three songs
are definite highlights of the album, each one being as good as any of the
Tied & Tickled Trio's
use of sax on their latest album. "Jet Piedmont" is the most basic jazz song
of the 3. It wouldn't sound out of place on your average middle of the day
college radio jazz programming. To contrast the use of saxophone
in this song, "I'm Just Trying to Get a Seat at the Bar" is more akin
to what you would find on an Amon Tobin or DJ Shadow record. Alternating
use of click tracks, hollow-sounding drumbeats, scratching, bass, and speech
samples accompany a fluttering, repetitive sax part. The final song on the
album, "Cusp," makes quick but effective use of the sax as a transition
between the mellow vocals in beginning part of the song and the rolling, rock
guitar section in the middle of the song.
The music on this album was written as a soundtrack for a film by a friend
of the band, Jonathon Parra, however you wouldn't notice that by listening
to the CD. The album is simply 10 great, diverse experiments in songwriting
and instrumentation (as both artists are attributed as having played 12
different instruments on the album).
(note: Read the recent interview with Brian Fraser of Brian & Chris where he discusses the band, their sophomore album, preparations for their upcoming tour, and unveils a secret about the "Undone Undine" song.)
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