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Dredg: El Cielo
On their Interscope debut, California natives, Dredg, seem consumed with topics like sleep paralysis as well as ones consciousness and whence it came. Seemingly effortlessly, El Cielo combines different flavors of music Spanish inspired mandolin, Indian chanting of the female persuasion and some sort of soothing choir. This could be interpreted as evidence that Dredg has spiritual roots they are trying to parlay unto their audience; or maybe they just dig choral arrangements. Vocalist Gavin Hayes is willing to step aside and let his bandmates, Mark Engles, Drew Roulette, and Dino Campanella, display their wicked musicianship on instrumental tracks Brushstroke: New Heart Shadow and Brushstroke: Walk In The Park. The latter song is a rather melancholy bringing together of violins and piano and is also a welcomed respite from Hayes, whose vocals seem to come forth with much effort and attention to his inflection. There is a distinct lilt to his singing that leaves me puzzled as to why it makes me feel so uncomfortable. Dredg also are partial to employing background noise, such as low conversation and varied other muted sounds, for little effect. I always find this type of thing distracting I like to hear the whole track and not have to sort out any underlying message in tongues. But overall, this tactic has very little to do with my overall opinion of the record, which is that it rocks in an unassuming way. Brushstroke: Reprise takes away any dissatisfaction I may have felt. It is a walk through the desert with the hot sun beating on your bare skin and it is as if there was a fella playing guitar next to you the whole time and then he up and disappears. It Only Took a Day is the one song that seems like a single. The guitar riffs are ferocious enough to grab your attention and keep you there while Hayes does his thing, which is really not that unsettling in this tune. Dredg have a lot of talent and they jam-pack this record with distinct flavors. For the most part, these boys deliver. If only Hayes was more passionate? I suggest taking a listen at the bands website.
This album can be purchased at Amazon, CD Universe, and Insound LEFT OFF THE DIAL's Dredg page About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content © LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
