Iced Ink: Music To Vacuum To

I tend to believe a music group is more than just the current CD they have released. After I received my copy of Music to Listen To by Iced Ink, I proceeded to check out their website and read their biography. Knowing the backstory helps flesh out the music I'm hearing.

I'm sure this is instrumental rock music. Is it progressive? In a general sense, yes it is. Is it "Scale the Summit" –progressive? No. But that is just fine.

The opening track "Look! It's Rock & Roll!" reminds me of a Rube Goldberg machine: each part leads into the next, the end being the ultimate goal, and only one segment seems to repeat just one time. This music is fun to listen to and perhaps is meant to be heard more than just once or twice, as it is a treat to hear how they get from A to B to C. There are changes in dynamics, pace, and genres. It's not so haphazard as to become frustrating, though. Their website indicates a certain ADD quality to their writing and though that description is pretty apt, there is plenty of charm and excitement to keep one drawn-in as opposed to turning one off. And the opening track is just over four minutes long.

The production is raw and sounds very live. A guitar (Mike Krenner), bass (Gregg Mitchell), and drums (Ethan Meyer) trio, Iced Ink is ready and able to change direction on a dime. "Abra Cadaver" provides more of a structure to get comfortable with yet still morphs between distinct building blocks.

Four clicks count off track three "Don Julio: Jalisco's Toothbrush for Your Brain." There are some instances when the band will jump into the odd time-signature and back out again but these transitions are seamless. The group plays well together and knows what each song requires plus what each other is playing at any given moment.

The "jamband" fan in me hopes to hear some group improvisation mixed into these tunes and perhaps in a true live setting this behavior happens. Oddly titled "Secret Asian Man" comes next and just when I think a riff or idea becomes too repetitive a curveball will be thrown and some interesting chord phrasings and Rush-esque rhythmic action appears.

I was thinking of "La Villa Strangiato" and how that track has many seemingly disparate pieces sewn together yet it makes a very compelling (if not legendary) song. Some of these songs initially seem thrown together like Legos from different sets but upon further listening it's apparent the parts have been honed to serve a purpose.

There's rockabilly, indie rock, surf rock, progressive rock; really it's a very flexible power trio that is agile and inventive. I assume the live show is a ton of fun.

Track Listing
1. Look! It's a Rock & Roll Band
2. Abra Cadaver
3. Don Julio: Jalisco's Toothbrush for Your Brain
4. Secret Asian Man
5. Chainsaw & Dave vs. The Flesh Eating Rabbits
6. White Box with Black Buttons
7. Steve Buscemi Overture
8. Beer for a Glass, From A Can.

Added: July 22nd 2013
Reviewer: Ryan Good
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 2768
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]