Universal Harmony: Thank God For Science “Self Titled” Volume 1 Review
Inter-galactric space porno music on an acid trip during some trippy part of the late 60s…this was my initial thought when I heard the debut record from Thank God For Science. Then I realized that a phrase like that would undermine the sheer brilliance of its musicality. There is, of course, a bass heavy flow to the music contained within the dozen tracks on this collection. It is after all the brain child of one of the finest bass players the Northeast has to offer in Jeremy Moses Curtis. And, of course, the music does take you on a trip, but it’s not a psychedelic-induced one. It’s more of a roadtrip through a variety of musical landscapes of instrumental tunes whose emotions and influences ebb and flow across far more than just one genre or feeling. Ones that hit on that soul and funk vibe that remains prominent throughout, but also spanning hints of rock n’ roll, jazz, reggae and blues. It is eclectic and fluid, but feels like a comprehensive work where everything belongs.
“Spaceman Mike” has an infectious groove that really gets your body into the vibrations of the music. The bass line hits hard, smooth and tubey and the interplay between the keys and the guitar creates a space that feels playful and atmospheric in the most harmoniously hip way. An orbiting of sound and sensation. “Ahoy Palloi” in contrast, has a very chilled out, sleepy and relaxed feeling to it. It’s almost sexy in a way. How the guitar line coasts over the ocean of other sounds. It brings things down a bit lower, sublevel and weighty, but relaxing and cool in its fashion. It’s almost like Sinatra meets Shaft or something. The blurring of two epitomes of badassness and sex appeal into one conducive things. That’s “Ahoy Palloi”.
“Bassage” takes on a spoken word poetry air as a leisurely reggae rhythm hovers effortlessly in the background. It’s five minute and forty-two second run time is a slow burn of never ending, monotoned poem, but remains engaging all the while.
“Jasper” hits on a bit more of a classical kind of vibe with country weeping guitar…and a little British rock piano flair peeking through the blinds. It’s beautiful and sad and evocative. I think that is what I find so intriguing and striking about this collection of Jeremy Moses Curtis’s arrangements, they hit on some many human emotions and can do so over the course of one track…and without having to actually speak a word. Even the collection of clips contained within the track “Answer Me This” manage to elicit some form of chaos and confusion that is stirring and strange. It leaves me uneasy in a way, but in a way that fascinates me in how it manages to do so.
In short, this is music that moves. It moves in and around itself with multiple layers and levels and also within the listener. Seriously, it has an almost trancelike enhancing power that just forces you into soul mode. I mean shit, I just feel cooler listening to these tunes. You should listen too. Thank God For Science is instrumental music for musicians. It isn’t pretentious or overly complex. Its not jam band music, but its not jazz improvisation, in a way its kind of both and encompasses the better parts of those things. I often times have a difficult time relating to primarily instrumental records, but TGFS soaked deep into my skin and left an impression on me that won’t soon seep out. There is just something special about music that can do that.
The ‘Volume 1″ release from Thank God For Science will be released on June 5 at The Armory just outside of Davis Square in Somerville, MA. The band has shows all around New England from CT to Vermont over the next few weeks as well, so be sure to check in on their website and get on out toe experience this stuff live.
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About the band: Thank God For Science is a fine group of musicians whose musical alchemy was harnessed to record a number of instrumentals I had written after coming off the road and was settling into parenthood. The songs morphed from demo version into finished arrangements over a 3 day session in March 2015. The result is an eclectic yet accessible album ready for release into the musical universe. The compositions include elements of amplified and effected phonographs, keyboards of all kind, guitars, viola, spoken word, horns and flutes all orbiting around a solid foundation of bass and drums. Recorded at Armory Sound in Somerville, MA, Thank God For Science, along with Producer Marc Pinansky and Engineer Dave Westner, have spent the year tweaking this first volume of songs to perfection. During that time, the band has reconvened in smaller and more out of the way venues to develop a sound that parallels the recorded material. Thank God For Science will be touring and supporting the release of Volume 1 throughout 2016 in a wholly unique style of their own.
