Mythology: The Story Of Sound

The loftily titled The Story Of Sound is the sixth album from New Jersey USA three-piece Mythology and I guess it ties in with their name that this latest shebang from the gang is a concept piece all about the man who invented music itself. Now, along with a lot of the song titles and some of the short videos on their facebook page, it’s reasonably clear that Mythology often wander around with their tongue firmly placed in their cheek, so I don’t think they literally believe they’ve discovered whoever it was that invented music and are now telling their story. However, for a 29 song, multi-part epic that plays as one piece of music that has many, many stop off points, it’s as sensible a topic as any and one that allows this album to basically be whatever it wants.

Rules pretty much go out of the window, songs interspersed with short passages that can maybe be best described as sound effects, or maybe as sections created to move the ‘story’ along. It does also mean that style and approach are seen as things to take a care-free approach to, Mythology described as progressive rock, but I’d suggest that nothing here falls into the world of ‘prog’. Avant, fusion and who knows what else is visited along the way with some more obvious rock songs, a hint of jazz and much else. For my taste it makes for an experience that, while impressive in the extreme, lacks for focus. Just as you think you might have a notion to grab a hold of, we’re off again and into something else entirely and yet, somehow, the overall effect is also just a little too relaxed and knowing for its own good.

Often with music like this I suggest that if I saw this band live it would all suddenly fall into place but that’s not really the case here. I reckon I’d be as befuddled and ‘on the outside looking in’ in a live setting as I undoubtedly feel with the CD spinning. Now, what I will say is that Brynen A. Sosa (electric & acoustic guitars, MIDI, sound design, vocals), Jordan Morrissey (drums & percussion, Q-Chord, vocals) and Dave Lockhart (electric & upright basses, percussion, violin, vocals) are hugely skilled chaps and a trio with huge ambition and a willingness to not worry about conforming. If that approach piques your interest, then I urge you to check out The Story Of Sound, because for some this album will click, and click-big time. Unfortunately that’s not the case for me, even if I can admire the process that’s been undertaken.

Track Listing
- Movement I:

1. My Mind's Eye (2:32)

2. Gather Ye Round (1:53)

3. Overture To Lord Force Blorgerstein (1:26)

4. Lord Force Blorgerstein (5:20)

5. Midnight Express (2:17)

6. Gnostical Turpitude (2:04)

- Movement II:

7. Here's A Droopy One (1:19)

8. The Sound (4:32)

9. Mr. Cookalabanza (Part 1) (3:45)

10. Mr. Cookalabanza (Part 2) (1:38)

11. The Sound Resounds (3:13)

12. Load Screen #1 (1:54)

13. The Flood Gates Open (0:45)

- Movement III:

14. Romance (1:25)

15. A Child Is Born (5:04)

16. The Uncomfortable Entrance Of Bartleby Pennyfeather (2:48)

17. In Flagrante Delicto (5:01)

18. An Inconvenient Intermission (0:39)

19. Flagrant Finale (0:53)

20. Freefall (0:47)

- Movement IV:

21. Load Screen #2 (1:20)

22. The Sky Is Falling (2:02)

23. The Low Way (5:44)

24. Condensation (1:02)

25. All That Lives, Pt. 1 (Recognition) (2:33)

26. Planck Epoch (1:38)

27. All That Lives, Pt. 2 (Acceptance) (1:03)

28. All That Lives, Pt. 3 (The Memory) (0:42)

29. All That Lives, Pt. 4 (Ad Infinitum) (4:32)

Added: October 21st 2024
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Mythology @ bandcamp
Hits: 226
Language: english

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