Review: Brass - Set & Drift

Label: self-released

Released: January 25, 2008

I seem to be using the word "angular" an awful lot these days and while that usually means I'm listening to something I enjoy, the post-punk influence is becoming so commonplace that it also begs the question, "What's special about this one?" With Brass, the answer is that they take their mathy angles and smooth them out with fluid bass lines and pleading vocals. Although slightly reminiscent of Michael Stipe at times, the vocals never cross the line into whininess. What's great is that the music is patient. It's agitated but never frantic as if it's coming to a boil, but not quite boiling. It shakes without jarring. The album comes in just under 30 minutes, but seems so much longer, not because it's boring, but because it accomplishes so much in that time. It's so much bigger than what usually comes out of a half hour.

Ratings
Satriani: 7/10
Zappa: 8/10
Dylan: 7/10
Aretha: 7/10
Overall: 7/10

Don't forget to check out Brass' new digital EP, A Small Breath.

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