- Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- -
Artist: Zechs Marquise
Album: Getting Paid
Label: Sargent House / Rodriguez Lopez Productions
Playtime: 49:46 min
Genre: Progressive Rock
URL: http://zechsmarquise.com/
Rip date: 2011-11-23
Street date: 2011-09-27
Size: 96.08 MB
Type: Normal
Quality: 255 kbps / 4410Hz / Joint Stereo
- Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- -
RIYL: LSD, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, The Mars Volta, good stuff!
At the Drive-In / The Mars Volta guitarist and musical auteur Omar
Rodriguez-Lopez doesn't contribute to this sophomore album by the band led by
his brothers Marfred on bass and drummer/keyboardist Marcel (other brother
Rikardo joined after this recording was complete) - but he green lit it for
his label. The predominantly instrumental set is a jittery and expertly
produced collection of prog/space rock featuring bubbly keyboards, hyperactive
tempos, and clattering, occasionally funky percussion. The songs range from
five-seven minutes, but they are packed with changes, layered instruments, and
enough ideas to extend them a lot longer. That the quartet checks those
impulses is one of the most impressive aspects of this collection, along with
the musician's obvious talent and near boundless creativity. Influences range
from '60s and '70s era King Crimson/Pink Floyd/Gentle Giant to Bitches Brew
period Miles Davis, and the blacksploitation cinema from which the cover art
was derived. The notes explain that the songs were written from percussion
parts sliced and diced by Marcel, with each member gradually adding more
instrumentation in a Frankenstein-styled process that, all things considered,
sounds remarkably organic. Tracks change tempos and mood often, but nothing
seems random or as pretentious as prog typically gets. Rather, the results
comprise sprawling but controlled music that challenges the listener without
taking itself too seriously; unusual considering such over the top song titles
as "Everlasting Beacon of Light" and "The Heat, the Drought, the Thirst, and
the Insanity." It sounds great, too, with room for the instruments to enter
and leave the mix while maintaining plenty of space, so nothing feels
cluttered or forced. When the band hits a killer riff, as on "Crushin' It,"
stun guitar hovers over the proceedings as the licks quicken with Zappa-like
efficiency. By the time the nervous, driving "Mega Slap" closes the 50-minute
album, the average listener is already exhausted from the near overabundance
of ideas. Thankfully, it's all played with an energy and focus that will
impress even the most die-hard fan of '70s prog who claim "they just don't
make 'em like that anymore". Rating: 4 out 5 - by Hal Horowitz
Zechs Marquise are:
Marcos Smith - Guitar
Matthew Wilkson - Guitar
Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez - Bass
Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez - Drums
Rikardo Rodriguez Lopez - keys
Zechs Marquise formed in El Paso, Texas during the spring of 2003 when
brothers Marfred and Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez came together with childhood
friends Matthew Wilkson and Marcos Smith. The group soon named itself after a
popular Japanese anime character and hit the studio to record its first album
during the late summer months of 2004. That studio effort was later scrapped
and in June 2006 the band instead released 34:26, a live improv set that
showed its great range of talents and influences. By fall of 2006, Zechs was
touring the west coast consistently, sharing the stage with such eclectic acts
as Daedelus, Busdriver, The Album Leaf, (DJ) Nobody, Daddy Kev, The Gaslamp
Killer, and Totimoshi.
July 2007 saw the band return to the recording studio. Having learned from the
difficulties of their first attempt, the quintet decided to keep all of the
recording in house, purchasing a mixing board, microphones, and Pro Tools in
order to track all of the recordings themselves. After a few days in their
studios, dubbed Castle Greyskull and El Morro, the members realized they had
enough material for a full length album. The record, Our Delicate Stranded
Nightmare, was completed in February 2008. Zechs Marquise then spent time on
the road auspiciously, touring with Free Moral Agents & Blank Blue. In March
2009, the band made its first adventure overseas to Europe, with Marcel
performing double duty playing in both Zechs Marquise who were opening for the
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group of which he is also a player. During their Overseas
tour, Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare was released by RLP/ Willie Anderson on
CD as well as the first pressing of the album on vinyl.
In May of 2009, Zechs Marquise signed to Sargent House for management and saw
the North American release on both CD/Digital and Vinyl of Our Delicate
Stranded Nightmare through Rodriguez Lopez Productions.
Currently the band is finishing up their new LP entitled Getting Paid for
release on RLP in the Winter of 2010.
- Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- -
01. Getting Paid ( 6:24)
02. Lock Jaw Night Vision ( 5:09)
03. Static Lovers ( 4:05)
04. The Heat, The Drought, The Thirst, and The Insanity ( 7:30)
05. Time Masters ( 2:34)
06. Guajira ( 6:50)
07. Everlasting Beacon of Light ( 7:47)
08. Crushin' It! ( 3:31)
09. Mega Slap ( 5:56)
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