Coevality: Multiple Personalities

Coevality is an instrumental Progressive Rock Trio based out of Los Angeles. Multiple Personalities is the band’s debut album which has been almost a decade in the making, and I can tell you, good things come to those who wait. These guys are powerhouses on their respective instruments, loaded with talent. I am immediately impressed as the first song “Light Breaks� flies out of the speakers, the tightness and complexity grab my ear.

Guitarist John Reicher layers the songs with his clean, shimmering delay and reverb drenched lines. He uses tapping to great effect, and that bright chimey tone brings to mind the likes of Eric Johnson, Wayne Krantz, and Snarky Puppy. So many guitarists rely on heavy gain; his sound and approach is refreshing. He adds some saturation to his lead work, but it’s never over the top. Impeccable phrasing and the use of various effects add character to his lead work. Fretless bassist Derrick Elliot often plays counter melodies, with interesting rhythms while locking in with drummer Andy Prado Jr. Prado Jr and Elliot explore their own space in the music, never losing each other. Each gets plenty of room to stretch out and show their formidable chops. The music is often right in your face, and other moments they back off and allow more atmospheric tones to take over. Midi keyboard tones add color, but never stray far from the trio’s core sound. It took a few listens for the character of each track to really begin to blossom. The songs have a lot of punch, with jazz and rock influences, but these guys can do it all. What stands out is nothing sounds forced, as complex as the music is, they understand how to make the music move and breath. “Carnival Minivan� is a tour de force, with Reicher’s lead and chordal work standing out, and having that fretless bass bubble underneath propels the song. There are many dynamic shifts (as there are throughout the album), and the song builds up to a big ending with some beautifully played sustained lead guitar ala Steve Hackett. The closing “Stone Among Pebble� is another amazing track that has me shaking my head and wanting to sell my guitars, just killer.

Let your eyes and ears absorb Coevality, I encourage you to go to the bands youtube page, and check out the video for “Oceania�. This demonstrates the bands musical muscle, composition skills, and the incredible technique they all possess. Once you see that, I have no doubt you will want to hear the entire CD. This is an excellent debut, one that fans of instrumental rock will definitely enjoy; let’s just hope we don’t have to wait another 10 years for their second album.

Personnel:
Jon Reicher - 7 string guitars and composition
Derrick Elliot - 6 string fretless bass and arrangements
Andy Prado Jr - Drums

Track List:

1. Light Bikes (5:24)
2. Cryptic Creek (5:32)
3. Oceania (8:17)
4. Carnival Minivan (10:04)
5. Mpd (8:03)
6. Core Incidents (5:34)
7. Stone Among Pebbles (10:19)

Added: April 29th 2021
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 1871
Language: english

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