El Cielos The Limit

ALBUM OF THE DAY
Dredg - El Cielo, released 2002 (Interscope)

It's been a few years since the last studio effort from Los Gatos, CA's finest engulfed the scene and left many a diehard fan in its wake and as such the anticipation for this new offering is expectedly high. Perhaps even higher though is the level of scrutiny the band will be subjected to, having now aligned themselves with a major label in the form of Interscope Records. Fortunately for both the fans and the band however such scrutiny is not required as dredg deliver the goods on this stunning new album, expertly showcasing their affinity for texture, layers and timing changes with enough skill to earn them the title of a modern day Pink Floyd . A lofty comparison no doubt but one that is well deserved as it is a rare occurrence in this day and age for a band to transcend the medium of music without the use of gimmicks, imagery or controversy, a feat which this quartet are effortlessly achieve. To put it bluntly, dredg infuse their craft with art and integrity in a way that is so gifted few of today's bands could even comprehend it, let alone even be competent enough to play.

Ethereal vocals with an emphatically sullen tilt sweep through the tracks like the cries of a tortured ghost, perfectly complimenting the material and skillfully bringing it to climactic highs and lows. Both haunting and empowering at any given moment, band frontman Gavin Hayes' distinct conviction and confidence are uncanny and easily earmark him as one of the brightest new vocal talents to emerge in recent years. The guitar work on the other hand is vivid and engaging, humbly weaving together intricate melodies and pointed riffing with many a glowing flourish, guiding the music to varying heights while also experimenting with acoustics, slides, effects and more. Beautiful and yet underpinned with a mild aggression, the bands darker side is conveyed flawlessly by its winding contributions, leaving the weighty bass lines to drift in and out of focus as they anchor a steady yet creatively expressive foundation for the songs to build upon. To contrast this the drumming included is surprisingly warm and organic feeling, taking shape with a variety of subtle rolls and crisp snare driven beats that almost always enlist enigmatic timing structures. From the gentle rattling of the stick against the rim of the snare to a sharp full on hit, drummer Dino Campanella's attention to detail is captured flawlessly and brilliantly increases the scope and range of the music overall. Strings, horns, piano and more are also present and while not necessarily incorporated into every song, their presence and dynamic flair is still often felt, broadening the horizons of the bands aural universe and undauntedly taking the material to another level altogether.



In a musical climate where nearly every one wants to sound like whoever is on top, dredg are the underdog - a band who make music to express themselves rather than to make it onto MTV. As such, integrity permeates throughout this album and while some may be quick to laud the group as the new pioneers of rock and roll as we know it, it should be noted that they are not necessarily doing anything that is completely unheard of or different, rather they are just taking music back to its purest expressive form. Conceptual, enlightening and above all stimulating, dredg don't merely write songs, they perform sonic cartography, a gift that will no doubt inspire many a clone to follow. Major label involvement has done little to taint the bands ideas as the only real difference on this record is that it is perhaps a bit more song-based in comparison to "leitmotif". Sure this may cause their music to appeal to a wider audience but it also takes nothing away from them as well. With such a wide array of sounds and styles on display, "El Cielo" (Spanish for the sky) is an album that is as expansive and versatile as its namesake, from the turbulence of thunder and lightning all the way to replenishing qualities of rain, its constant movement and progression make it a must have record for any full fledged music lover and one that will stand the test of time. A true classic in a time where music has become a commodity, rather than an art form. - Wookubus (theprp.com)