Static Trio Album Review
Avant Garde Rock Trio Releases Debut Instrumental Album
In the world of Avant-Garde and prog rock music there are few rules and those that surface from tie to time are gleefully broken by musicians. There is, of course, the implicit understanding that within this commorancy lives music that eschews mainstream and other genre-binding constraints. What this music must be is rather hard to generalize, however.
Static Trio is an instrumental group based out of NYC/Denver composed of musicians Mike Thies on drums, John Grigsby on bass and Dave Devine on guitars. At any given time reminiscent of the lyrical melodic side of Daniel Lanois, the aggressive punch of King Crimson or the rapid fire breakbeats of Squarepusher and Aphex Twin, Static Trio is indeed a dynamic band. Their latest self-titled recording, released independently, offers the listener some truly interesting and remarkable pieces of music.
Static Trio is at times cacophonous and strident, bearing down powerfully like a drill bit boring into steel. Each musician plays with steely precision while always never sacrificing musicality. At other moments it is hauntingly introspective, leaving you with feelings of remorse and solitude. Never insipid or trite, Static Trio engages the listener from beginning to end.
Film Music Styles on Static Trio
Much of the music on Static Trio seems fit to provide the soundtrack for an artsy independent film. The opening track, Comptor begins with Devine’s guitar successfully imitating what it might sound like if a computer suddenly developed schizophrenia. During a development of the CPU’s theme through different variations of odd meter, Comptor eventually reaches a savage and violent culmination where all that remains is smoke and rubble.
Then there is the aptly named Quint, perhaps the most melodic and moving piece on the album. Surely destined for a film score, Quint almost feels like pop culture with its memorable harmonic twists and turns and a contemporary arrangement. Regardless of the unconventional 5/4 time signature, it flows naturally and effortlessly anchored by Thies’ creative rhythms and Grigsby’s solid punctuation and subtle nuances.
The album ends with Pretty Much a solo noise piece by Devine. Static, fuzz and distortion oscillate through your head as he demonstrates a redoubtable command of his electronic arsenal underfoot. Although completely atonal in the traditional sense, listening to Pretty Much a few times through you will discover just how beautifully discordant yet simultaneously dulcet music can be.
Track Listing: Comptor; Jean-Paul; Quint; Sun/moon; Splain; Alpha; Bat Call; Taies; Pretty Much
Personnel: Dave Devine: Guitars and Electronics; John Grigsby: Electric Bass; Mike Thies: Drums and percussion
StaticTrio Album Cover
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