(5-track mini-album/ FRIENDLY PSYCHICS MUSIC, FPM 010)
American band Upstate want to go downtown with their music when it's this sublime.
Turns out, the five musicians who make up the band aren't based in any one state of the US, let alone the same town or city. What's even more remarkable is the fact that these guys have never played or practiced together in the same room; instead, their amazing music somehow manages to materialise via the postal service with all members to-ing and fro-ing tapes of riffs, beats and vocals that are ultimately layered together to produce this most original of indie-rock sounds.
Fronted by Denver don John Wenzel (who used to live in Ohio), Upstate here present five astonishingly catchy songs that proudly feature on an independent American movie entitled 'Missing,' directed by Joe Bargdill.
Throughout, their music is staggeringly vibrant and yet underscored by moments of such mellowness you can't help but be entranced and held spellbound, as 'Falling Missiles' irks out a compellingly dark vibe that I imagine to be in-keeping with the movie's potential 'film-noir' style. The intriguing line 'I don't understand your tactics' is the first thing to be heard, and from there on in the unwitting listener is treated to 16-odd minutes of some of the most stunning music I've ever heard.
Frontman-of-sorts Wenzel leads the vocals. As fantastic as the vocals are, Upstate come further into their own and show off their musical talents to yet greater extents when the vocals end and tracts of instrumental majesty begin to kick in.
The tracks are acoustic-based for the large part, as 'Orange At Night' is bolstered by perfect Alt.-indie melodies and a moodily evocative vibe. The complex 'folkie' technicalities remind of Brit Alt.-pop acoustic duo Ben & Jason, and Upstate's knack for writing tunes within tunes proves that their song-writing talents are jaw-droppingly second to none. 'The Static,' similarly, sounds primevally broody, reminiscent of Nick Cave's or The Jesus and Mary Chain's solemn yet sublime seriousness in captivating.
Armed with James Focht on guitar, Dan Miller on guitars/keyboards, Jamie Heaps on drums and Chris Jones on bass, this band's collective moment of glory comes in the genius form of 'Immune Like Me.' Eloquent and beautifully executed, if this song doesn't make you beam with feel-good reverence then the assumption that you have any heart or soul is, right now, diminishing in value per second.
These five tracks alone might just single-handedly restore your faith in quality music full stop. One thing's for certain, indie rock music very rarely bounds along with this much go-getting tenderness. And now I'm just gagging-on-gag to see the damn movie!�
(Steve Rudd) 5/5
www.friendlypsychicsmusic.com
And for more info on the 'Missing' movie, click here and now� www.brokenlamp.net