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Rejuvenating and refined, The String Cheese Incident’s latest offering One Step Closer displays a band that gets off best on stage blossoming with a solid, thematic studio vision. Recorded in the Front Range of their native Boulder, SCI’s fifth album may best be described as down-homey Colorado mountain music. But don’t expect typical SCI. Like skiing (or riding) in the Rockies, the bare, roots approach on OSC clears the way for a new trail in the virgin powder that is SCI’s ever-evolving musical tapestry.
Equally as bold and distinct as 2003’s Untying the Not, OSC is doubtless both reactionary to and the antithesis of SCI’s previous studio album. Gone are any hints of electronica, and gone too are the “jamband” trademarks of improvisation and extended soloing. Hand-picked producer Malcolm Burn may be most responsible for the album’s aura, coaching and cultivating SCI into a stripped-down, thoughtful effort absent an abundance of post-production effects and multi-track layering. Burn, who has done Grammy winning work with Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan, also plays on the album and has multiple co-author credits (a phenomenon that’s clearly demonstrated on the accompanying DVD.)
The compositional simplicity and spirit of bluegrass, country, Americana, and folk pervade the album both musically and lyrically with the genres dancing near the surface but never fully taking hold individually. For instance, Michael Kang’s violin work on “Sometimes a River” gives the track a wholesome, polished, symphonic feel, while bassist Keith Moseley’s vocal stylings add a distinguished, Nashville sound. The generous use of accordion, harmonica, subtle percussion, and a plethora of acoustic, string instruments additionally bolsters the targeted sound. Examples include guitarist Billy Nershi’s pensive “Big Compromise” and keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth’s collaboration with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter on “45th of November” - the latter, a triumphant tribute to Hunter’s beautiful poetry.
The organic, danceable groove that has been the String Cheese Incident’s cornerstone isn’t totally absent on the new record, however. Drummer Michael Travis adds smooth vocals on Moseley’s catchy “Until the Music’s Over.” He sings, “My heart’s like a stopped clock / Twice a day it’s right on time,” as the beat pounds away infectiously, mimicking the tick, tick, ticking of both the heartbeat and the clock. “Drive” is another prominent track, featuring crisp, vivid lyrics and a verse written and sung by each band member. The rockin’ chorus is a surefire SCI anthem: “It ain’t over / Ain’t it good to be alive? / It ain’t over / Close your eyes and drive.”
By the end of One Step Closer, it becomes clear that SCI is utilizing the studio as a canvas separate and unique from the stage. Ironically, the album closes with the song “Brand New Start.” Over soulful harmonica and lap steel guitar, Moseley gently sings the final words, “It’s like a brand new start of something.” With that, it becomes clearly evident that the Barefoot Boulder Boys feel really, really good about their musical latitude and longitude, and if you’re a true SCI fan, you can’t help but to feel good too.
John Smrtic
JamBase | New York
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