Such
Fine Particles of the Universe (2002)
What exactly is "Bubblemath"? From the design of the lavish
packaging, it would appear to be a science of some sort. It
is possibly a hybrid of the high-octane, multi-part vocalizations
and absurd lyrical subjects of Yezda Urfa with a modern and
aggressive alternative edge. Or maybe it's a cross between the
incessant chord changes and similarly vocal oriented songs of
Echolyn, and the off-beat humor of Mike Keneally. Whatever the
hell you want to call it, it kicks ass in its own unique and
adventurous way. This young quintet from Minnesota has brought
us their own idiosyncratic take on progressive rock, filled
with "writhing time signatures and swollen chord progressions,
drenched with political savvy".
At times,
the music can feel like the aural equivalent of attention deficit
disorder; tons of great chord progressions and constantly shifting
time signatures keep the listener on their toes, awaiting something
new around every corner. The shorter song lengths suit the energetic,
and sometimes spastic, nature of the songs. Accents such as
flute, xylophone, sampled TV and various effects add to the
musical diversity. The player's dexterity shines throughout
the album, with the ability to tackle the break-neck changes
with ease, and retaining a continuous flow. The complexity does
not sacrifice the insatiable chattiness of the songs either.
Kai Esbensen's lyrics are for the most part quite clever; differing
from those of traditional prog, and covering topics that are
at times goofy, topical and down to earth.
This exciting
and impressive debut comes highly recommended. It's always encouraging
to see a young new band breathe some fresh air into the rather
stagnant prog genre, and I will await the follow up to Such
Fine Particles of the Universe with great anticipation.
Here's to supporting Bubblemath's "dedication to the propagation
and continued survival of non-stupid music".
- Mike Prete
[February 2002]
Click
Here for Tracklist and Lineup Info
