Occasionally the energies in creative musical talent comes together perfectly. What most listeners do not know, the real magic happens live onstage. Proving such, The Technicolors’ Brennan Smiley says, “We’ve always fancied ourselves a band based around the show. It’s where our songs come to life. Some die. Some get a face-lift, or a name change. We suppose this is the first time we were able to capture that element on tape” when speaking of the band’s highly anticipated new album, Metaphysical, set for release July 7, 2017.
Their fourth overall full-length studio album, a quick follow-up to 2017’s Sweet, The Technicolors pull from a wonderfully twisted Garage Rock/Brit Pop aesthetic. Consisting of Smiley on vocals/guitar, Troy Lowney on keyboards, Mike “Nico” Nicolette on bass, and Sean Silverman on guitar/vocals, the skilled musicians come together with a powerful collective energy.
Punching out ten new tracks for Metaphysical of Desert Rock Disco, it is easy to hear that The Technicolors influences spread far and wide. Consistently developing their desert Rock Disco vibe of music since their 2012 debut album, Listeners, Metaphysical continues the journey.
From the opening of “Neon Roses” with its ethereal vocals and falsetto mixed chunky bass, the band cast shadows somewhere in between The Cure and Interpol. That in mind, there are elements of Punk, Alternative, and Rock throughout Metaphysical. Clearly influenced by a wide range of artists including Queens of the Stone Age, Blur, and TV on the Radio, The Technicolors combine this to create their own musical ideas. In addition to such, extensive touring has helped their maturation process both as musicians and lyricists as heard on “Fall Off The Moon,” a song about the reality of being an adult and finding footing in stability.
Matched with a list of quality songs, the album’s first single is “Congratulations, You’re A Doll!” for good reason. A stand out track, it is dressed with an electro dance groove grounded by stellar bass work from Nicolette and key work from Troy Lowney. With the single, The Technicolors succeed in transferring a sexually driven dance club grind, which is felt throughout Metaphysical, inviting listeners to join in with the moaning lyrical delivery that are punctuated by dismissive lyrics. This is heard within the cheering and jeering of “Motives” going into the dark cyclical lyrical pattern of “Little Charmer.” The latter, with a whistling introduction, becomes a song filled with depth. This is a common theme throughout the album, as the band disguise such with perky musicality balancing it all, as heard on the metaphor laden “Lilies Lilly” at the beginning of the album.
Lastly, album closer and title-track, “Metaphysical,” is the exact definition of the word; literally an incorporation of all elements from each song, structurally creating listener transcendence. Heavy and demanding, it is a song that rocks harder and faster as well as a slinky creeper second only to the album’s lead single in effectiveness.
Shifting gears, The Technicolors have elevated and matured both as songwriters and musicians with Metaphysical. That said, The Technicolors have come a long way since Listeners in 2012. Now preparing their first overseas tour into the United Kingdom, sky is the limit for this talented young band. For these reasons, CrypticRock gives Metaphysical 5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment