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3RDegree - Narrow-Caster
Country of Origin:
USA
Format:
CD
Record Label:
Independent
Year of Release:
2008
Time:
46:49
Info:
Samples:
Tracklist: Apophenia (4:43), It Works (5:05), Narrow-Caster (3:09), Live With This Forever (5:08), Cautionary Tale (5:07), The Proverbial Banana Peel (3:07), Young Once (5:15), Scenery (5:49), Free For All (4:36), The Last Gasp (4:55)
Founded by Robert James Pashman in 1990, 3RDegree met up again in 2005 after a long hiatus and determined to record together again. This decision resulted in Narrow-Caster; the band’s first studio album in 12 years. The album consists of 10 songs, a mixture of new songs and some from the band’s earlier incarnation. The band is made up of Robert James Pashman on bass, keys and vocals; Pat Kliesch on guitars and vocals; Rob Durham on drums; and George Dobbs on vocals and keys.
The album opens with the energetic Apophenia, a song about humankind’s tendency to look for, and find, patterns or connections in otherwise unrelated things. The edgy guitar work, underpinned by a driving bass line, is combined with creative vocals to create a track suggestive of Echolyn. An impressive opener.
Next up is It Works, where the late-night piano intro invokes a sense of nostalgia, but as the track evolves a funky keyboard riff is introduced that takes things in a new direction. There is some outstanding keyboard playing on this track, and special mention must also be made of the striking lead guitar work.
It Works is followed by the title-track Narrow-Caster; a song about staying in one’s comfort zone; an accusation that can't be levelled at this group. The track leads in with the chorus, which contains some impressive vocal harmonies. Whilst the melody wouldn’t be out of place on an IZZ album, the lead guitar in the middle evokes memories of Steely Dan.
Vocally and melodically, the next track, Live With This Forever conjures up Jellyfish references. There’s a lot going on in this track, from the superlative vocals and excellent bass work through to some tasteful complementary keyboard sounds.
A change of pace brings Cautionary Tale, warning of the dangers of religious extremism. From a vocal perspective, Stevie Wonder springs to mind here. Quite a mellow track, but with a hard-hitting message.
The Dream Theater-ish The Proverbial Banana Peel is a heavier piece, full of grungy guitar and really nice drum-work; my only criticism would be that it doesn’t last long enough!
The chorus-verse-chorus structure at the start of Young Once soon gives way to an ambient late-middle section that ends in a Mike Oldfield-like instrumental. The haunting chorus is the icing on a very fine track indeed.
Scenery is an acoustic number that invokes aural imagery of Queen and ELO, highlights the softer side of the band and sets us up for Free For All; a pure Dream Theater-meets-Jellyfish rocker. Again the bass is used to good effect, providing the engine that propels the whole song.
Album closer The Last Gasp is an anthemic combination of light and shade with a melody that sticks in the mind long after the album has ended. It blends all the strengths exhibited throughout the album and is orchestrated in such a way that makes me hope the band turn their collective hand to a 10 minute-plus epic at some point in the future.
It’s not often an album as refreshing as this comes along, and we should treasure it when it does. Thoughtful and intelligent lyrics are united with outstanding melodies and sonic creativity reminiscent of Kate Bush. The bands that are referenced above only go some way to conveying a sense of the styles of music on offer here. If I were to try to summarise this album concisely, I would say the most pertinent comparisons would be with Echolyn and IZZ, but that is not to say it's in any way derivative. The superb production enhances an already high-quality mix of songs, resulting in an album that demands repeated spins, and rewards every listen with some new revelation.
Highly and unreservedly recommended!
Conclusion: 9 out of 10
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DPRP Recommended!
