Album Type: EP
Date Released:
26/8/2014
Label: Oscillator
Records
‘Jack
Of All Trades, Master Of None’ DD track listing:
1). Wasteland
(01:11)
2). Jack Of
All Trades, Master Of None (04:43)
3). Falling
Towards Earth (04:51)
Bio:
Seaside,
California based multi-instrumentalist James Findlay brings to life the sonic
fury of Concave with heavy guitars, thundering drums and creative bass lines.
Thoughtful melodies are conveyed through effects laden guitars that complete
the soundscape of this instrumental rock music.
Concave began
in the year 2006 out of the struggle and failure to find like-minded musicians
close by. Through 3 full length records
Findlay has continually melded a indie rock and post metal sound that
highlights the heavy influence of bands like Hum, Shiner, Isis, Failure, Built
To Spill, Pelican, Dianogah and Don Caballero.
Continually
driven by the need to create challenging and thoughtful music, Concave
continues into the future with the release of “Jack Of All Trades, Master Of
None" out on Oscillator Records, August 26th 2014.
The
Band:
James Findlay
| Drums, Guitar and Bass
Review:
This
three song project by multi-instrumentalist James Findlay, isn't your typical
three or four piece band. All instruments are played by one person. Carefully
arranged and recorded. It comes off as much less an "album" and more
of a Brainchild. While the songs lack
vocals of any kind and may put off some listeners who have been raised and
conditioned to expect vocals of some sort, it more than makes up for it in
creativity and imagery.
Each
song seems to be intended to flow into the next, much like a small
"concept album" if you will. Much like Pink Floyd (or even Opeth, if
you demand a more metal reference, although Concave sounds nothing like either
of those.)
The
opening track "Wasteland" is a minute and eleven seconds of what
almost sounds like warning sirens played in the desert while filming a scene in
Death Valley , or warning you of some kind of
forthcoming disaster. It seems to be
there entirely to set the mood for the next song "Jack of All Trades,
Master of None", which really comes off as the centrepiece to the entire
project. This is what you came to hear, and this will give you the clearest
idea of what Concave is about. What
it's about is a mood piece. The fairly-heavy riffing, and solid drumming set a
nice pace for the wailing, and rather wistful leads, that really take the place
of a traditional singer and go a long way to setting the almost melancholy mood
the EP is painting.
If
you check out this album, and are expecting a traditional rock line-up, or have
expectations about what heavy music should be, you may be disappointed. Concave
is not that band. You're going to want to keep looking. However, if you are
tired of tradition, and looking for something a little more "laid
back", or something a little more on the softer, more intellectual side,
then this is for you.
The
title track "Jack of All Trades, Master of None" probably sums up the
artist's playing style. Neither the drums, or guitars or bass are going to
amaze you with blistering audio pyrotechnics or masterful Randy Rhoads soloing,
and truthfully, I doubt that was the intended goal. What Findlay
If
I have one complaint, it would be that there is less than 10 minutes of
material here, and I would have loved to hear more of it, to see where the
artist is trying to take me. Pelican fans, or again, fans of metal concept
albums, should absolutely check this out.
I'll
be interested to see where this goes and what’s next from Concave.
Words by: Mike Borsum
You
can pick up a copy here
For
more information:
