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Brothers Past's EP, statEPolice, is a stunning achievement consisting of five meticulously crafted and brilliant tracks. Known for their relentless touring and fearless musical exploration, indie snobs and electronica geeks alike will be challenged to expand their definition of this band that jams. In stylistically blending elements from many genres, past and future, Brothers Past is simply becoming a great band.
Brothers Past demonstrates their vocal range with lyrics beyond the typical fare. Guitarist Tom Hamilton offers emotive performances, fronting most of the songs and sounding like Thom Yorke and David Bowie at times. Hamilton joins with keyboardist Tom McKee, and bassist Clay Parnell to create lush harmonies, adding gorgeous depth and dimension.
Displaying rare studio genius, the songs are deep and intricate, yet not overdone. Perfectly placed sounds, dare the listener to don headphones. Sonically, the band delivers crunchy rock-inspired guitar, thick flowing bass, atmospheric keys, and a seamless mix of analog and digital beats. The bass and drum work is remarkable, flawlessly creating an aggressive electronic backbone to support the melodies. The melding of electronica and rock has never sounded so natural.
The opening track, "Too Late To Call," is a powerful heavy rocker that explores the futility of wishing you could change the past. Anger, frustration, denial and desperation compel the listener to feel personally invested. The theme of inner struggle and mixed emotions continues on the title track "State Police." This time an attitude of subtle amusement emerges as a lifeline of sanity over the absurdity of what people put each other through. Exploring the paranoia from not being able to escape a harsh reality, the music progresses from bittersweet rock to a more electronic pop ending. The results are sublime.
"Dead Clowns" is an unconventional melding of punktronica, climbing the psychedelic ladder towards a euphoric climax. The lyrics, a grim and scathing social commentary, create a darker and grittier tone while the music explodes into a deceptively upbeat collage of catchy guitar hooks and keyboard effects. This juxtaposition subtly reinforces Brothers Past's sophistication. Next, the paradoxical reworked "Signs of Life" is a sinister and slightly twisted anthem that delivers extra vigor and intensity. In a poignant moment Hamilton repeatedly exclaims, "I never felt so alive!" This song never sounded so good.
"Throw me Around," the EP's finale, is a heart-wrenching epic, perhaps their greatest studio piece to date. The band delivers a symphonic ballad reminiscent of Radiohead's OK Computer and the Flaming Lips' The Soft Bulletin. We are guided gently into the mind of a tortured soul, conflicted with the blurring lines of love and hate. Questions already asked many times, in vain, turn to nostalgia, then replaced by regret and resentment stemming from the perceived injustice. What follows is the raw lyrical and musical explosion of a simple question rarely expressed so eloquently—-"Why?"
Brothers Past has created a work that puts them at the forefront of modern music. This EP sets the bar very high for their 2005 full-length release.
Mike Brown
JamBase | Worldwide
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