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| First and foremost, it should be said that I owe Kieskagato a rather
hefty personal favor. The band's last album, You, Are The One, Who Can,
reignited my interest in local music altogether with its hybrid potion of
rock, jazz, indie and, most importantly, that unmistakable laid back
Portland ambiance. Moreover, it helped conquer my fear of trumpets. I might
still duck and cover beneath a dark hooded sweatshirt every time I'd see one
if it hadn't been for these guys. The group has returned with a second dosage of musical medicine to cure your urban maladies. This time around, an independent release, unceremoniously titled EP, provides more of the band's memorable style of laid back rock and roll. Singer/guitarist/bassist/trumpeter Josh Vasby's relaxing vocals lead the band with an unshaken tone which is simultaneously playful, lulling and confident. The words he sings are blanketed by an orchestral blanket of dreamy guitar work, jazzy basslines, upbeat keys and, of course, the friendliest trumpet work you've ever heard. Fellow bandmates Adam Scultz (bass, trumpet, percussion), Bryan Fairfield (backing vocals, drums, percussion), and David Jorgensen (Rhodes, organ, trumpet) are so in tune with each other that they almost sound like one enormous force that would require surgery to break apart into separate entities. Two of the record's five songs ("Thursday" and "See You At The Meeting") should feel familiar, making return appearances from You, Are The One. The slight differences in sound from the earlier session might not be enough to demand a favorite between recordings but, alongside the new material, they might stand to show some growth in the band. Hearing these recordings, you can almost hear a familiarity to the workings of the song that comes from having experienced play. Like wine, the music seems to come out a bit smoother with just the passing of a year. Three brand new tracks feel like they could have easily fit in on last year's release. The bouncy rock feel of "Dirty House" is immediately catchy enough to make hands start clapping rhythmically in any bar or venue. "Well Then, Alright" stands out as the longest track at just a sneeze past nine minutes, giving it more time than the rest to dabble in progressive experiments. Similarly, "Straight Line" plays with some ambient, nearly post rock qualities which make it more of an interactive, jamming feel. As an independent release, the band will have its work cut out for it, getting these songs to the masses. But anyone who is familiar with the old record or even happens to stumble upon this one will be forced to agree upon its quality. Many bands lose their touch from one release to another, especially when they continue to write songs in the vein of their previous work. Kieskagato, however, seems to have quite a few more tricks up its sleeve and succeed again here. Especially considering the support the band is slowly gaining on a national level, Kieskagato has absolute potential to be in the indie spotlight as one of the scene's crowning jewels within a very short period of time. If my vote counts for anything, the band deserves it. - OMG |