In Progress: Signal Failure

In Progress are a new duo from New York City and San Francisco who have come together with the help of ex-Fates Warning drummer Mark Zonder (who plays on some of the songs here), to create an album that is deeply intense, while still containing some wonderfully melodic passages. The band cites a wide and varied set of influences that ranges from Porcupine Tree and Fates Warning, to Tool and Nine Inch Nails and from those four bands a far more sedate Tool is possibly the closest way to describe what is presented across the thirteen tracks on debut album Signal Failure. However none of those bands really give a clear account of the despairing melancholy that seeps from all of In Progress's songs in a way that can cause this album to be impenetrable for long periods and strangely rewarding in others.

As this band's musical starting point however there is much to admire here. Beautifully intricate and intense keyboard and synth arrangements are embellished with a mixture of tasteful clean guitar playing and some harsher riffs that are tightly executed and dryly produced, so as to add a touch of aggression without losing the flow of the album. The vocal style employed is very natural, although it at times verges on falsetto and I have to say that some of it took a little time to get used to and can be a slightly distracting to begin with. The addition of Zonder has proved to be astute, with his percussive work being a busier, more colourful focal point to the music that never out stays its welcome. Choosing songs to highlight is a difficult task, as much of what is presented seems to need the other songs that surround them to create their setting, but having said that I do find myself going back to the simple and beautiful tones of "The End Of The Rainbow", which is a song of sweet, yet hard hitting depth.

I have now lived with Signal Failure for over two weeks and have played the album almost daily and while there is much of it that I thoroughly enjoy, I still find my mind wandering from the almost constantly smooth and placid ideas that flow from the speakers. The duo are made up of Jake Rosenberg and John Dillon and there is no doubting that as a partnership they are skilled writers and performers, but personally I found that much of this album relies on themes that are too similar, in a way that can numb the impact of much of the heartfelt music that is created. Now that may all sound rather harsh and damning, but I actually have enjoyed much, if not all of what In Progress do, it is just that in one sitting the album needs just a touch more light to help emphasise the well crafted dark. Also with the disc clocking in at around the hour mark, losing ten minutes or so of the more cinematic passages that contain dialogue and "add atmosphere", would have made for a more concise and memorable experience.

This is a solid and in places impressive debut album and with a little more focus and the willingness to experiment, In Progress could have an extremely interesting future.

Track Listing
1. Test Pattern
2. Shut Down
3. Leave Now
4. Transmission
5. This Whole World
6. Better Off
7. Tunnels
8. Reverse Signal
9. Counting Down
10. Unplug
11. The End Of The Rainbow
12. Breathing Fire
13. Home

Added: February 10th 2011
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: In Progress MySpace
Hits: 2583
Language: english

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