Being a resident of Arizona, I can testify that our music scene is… less than thriving. Our history? Moderately killer. Prior to Y2k, The Mason Jar was one of the hottest tickets around; Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Ramones, Joan Jett, Jane’s Addiction, Soundgarden… lots of great shows were played there in its heyday. Meat Puppets, a band that’s probably best known for sitting in with Nirvana during their unplugged set, hail from Brophy Prep in Phoenix.
Alice Cooper, almighty overlord of shock rock, also originated from the valley. Jimmy Eat World… some other post-hardcore acts… we apparently had quite the punk scene back in the day. So, obviously at one time we had something going on. The closure of the Mason Jar seems to be one of the last straws of Arizona’s music scene. That… and some controversial laws from a few years back that actually caused bands to protest the state by not coming here on tour. It seems like we’ve become a place that musicians come for a winter home if they’re seeking a quiet life in the swank of Scottsdale (hello Bret Michaels).
Lately, it’s been all quiet on the southwestern front (let it be noted that I’m not trying to slam any local acts; it’s just that I, personally, haven’t heard much coming out of the state that really excites me as of late). I know there’s something great out there, as there is in every town… I should just dig a bit deeper. But luckily, I didn’t have to do too much digging to find a gem…
Among the Clouds is a musical project by multi-instrument playing/self-producing Max Brown that’s currently based in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona. It’s safe to say that the mind behind this music is versed in his craft. A lot of work was put into building AtC to what it is today; it wasn’t an overnight inspiration that mounted to unbridled creative energy and feelings of success. There’s been effort, practice, a few periods of writers block… the shit it takes to make something real. Inspiration comes from a fairly eclectic group of bands: Linkin Park, RHCP (more than that, an obvious draw from the solo work of John Frusciante), Muse, Nine Inch Nails… several more. And it seems like the influences grow from song to song; this really seems to be an artist who draws from experience rather than being very projected into the future sound of tomorrowland. Aside from being influenced by several rock acts, there is a definite presence of electronica in the music from AtC. However, every song I’ve heard is unique. It doesn’t get boring. It doesn’t get typical. It doesn’t get conventional. While there are some elements that pop up (i.e. the electronic elements paired with a hard rock sound), it’s never something predictable. I should also add that, while being recorded and mixed in a home studio with what I’m sure is a fairly modest budget, it doesn’t sound like it. When I think self-produced, my mind typically jumps to the diminished quality of lo-fi. While I do have a soft spot for a lowered production value, AtC is very much the opposite. There’s obviously a heightened production value present (something that impresses me given the status of Max being based from a home studio). Long story short… Among the Clouds comes from the mind of a very brilliant musician who’s obviously passionate about his craft. It’s not approached as a hobby, but rather a serious day job. Definitely something that we should all keep an eye on, for I expect many wonderful things in the future (both near and distant).
In Transit and Retrospect is the latest from Among the Clouds. An instrumental album heavy with an ethereal ambience, ITaR has an audible level of experimentation. It doesn’t come across as a messy attempt at the different and untapped (as some musical experiments do, no shame though), but rather incredibly polished yet still maintains a very unique sound and (what seems to be) a stream of conscious driven creative flow.
The album sounds vaguely reminiscent of the short lived experimental rock band Ataxia (played a bit softer and sans vocals, of course) and Frusciante’s album The Empyrean. That thought came on my initial listen. While I do think it’s definitely a positive to be associated with either of those acts, this album is much more unique and separate from a distinguishable “reminiscent of” label. While there is a level of familiarity within its tracks, it’d be pointless to search for exactly what the influences could’ve been. It is without a doubt its own album. By that I mean, it completely leapt over the snag of “a copy of a copy of a copy” trap that is found in music on occasion. So much has been done, it’s hard to generate something completely new… but this honestly gets a bit close. While there have been ambient and instrumental albums released in the past, this one has a different vibe to it. For one thing, it’s difficult to ignore. While listening to other instrumental albums, it’s easy to let it fade in the background and come second to your multitasking. But this album makes you listen, in a way. And yet… it has a very soft, almost easy going sound. But, at the same time, manages to maintain the tint of a harder edge on a few tracks (One Moment Less and Pendulum, being examples). There are a lot of reasons as to why I find the album to be inimitable, it just starts getting redundant and hard to express after a while.
The album is bookended with two really solid tracks, Atrophy at the start and Transgression finishing things up. Atrophy is a song that makes you wonder what else the album has in store. It’s soft, ethereal, and pretty much beautiful. After a few listens I can say Transgression is probably my favorite track. I think it’s a very fitting closer to the album, seeing as it leaves you with a desire to hear more (not the mention a moment of “NO! That can’t be the last track!). What comes in the middle is nothing short of spectacular. While all the tracks do fit into the “otherworldly ambience” category, they all manage to stand out and have their own sense of what makes a beautiful song (let it be noted that it’s taking great effort not to overuse the adjective “beautiful” or any of its synonyms whilst describing the album). I don’t think I can find much of anything wrong with this album.
This was half local musician profile, half review. I think it’s obvious that I have nothing but positive things to say about In Transit and Retrospect, Among the Clouds, and the brilliant musical mind behind it all. This is definitely an artist to keep an eye on. I hope I’ll have a chance to review more material soon.
In Transit and Retrospect can be downloaded here for the incredibly fair price of $6. And there’s also an option to give it a listen beforehand.
Here are a few other nifty links:
Check out Among the Clouds on Soundcloud to get a feel for other tracks by the artist. (I highly recommend My Thieves.)
YouTube
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