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Solarcade Aliens and Angels music review
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Solarcade Aliens and Angels
7Records
With a smear of eyeshadow, a dab of gloss and profound lyrics akin to
HIM,
Solarcade put forth with great effort their debut album, Aliens and
Angels
(7Records, 2005). This prog-rock trio from Los Angeles beckons to
listeners
with their dark, yet seductful lyrics. There’s such a variety here,
too.
Track listing:
01 Land of Love
02 How You Remember
03 When She Comes
04 Hijacked
05 Glory
06 Imaginary Girl
07 Down
08 Song for Staes
09 She
10 Lifeline
The band, which consists of Paul Van (vocals, guitars, keyboards),
Pomilla
(lead guitar) and Heath Cooley (drums and percussion) are influenced by
everything from Depeche Mode, to Stone Temple Pilots, to Radiohead. A
handful of these musicians will take part in the impacting the
coming-together of the album sound, too.
"How You Remember" starts off sounding like ZZ Top backed with a Chris
Isaak
bassline, but the running beat and step-ups on the chorus make this a
very
catchy track. It’s a song that ignites something on the inside, and
before
you know it, your body is moving along with it. It ends abruptly,
though,
leaving a want for more.
Vans vocals range from a deep, throaty tenor to a higher-pitched tone--
whichever suits the track best. But on songs like "Hijacked," they seem
to
have become misplaced in the wrong track, and don’t match the targeted
direction.
Guitar solos are direct, very to-the-point, and the drumming sometimes
takes
on a marching taps feel, which gives the album a sense of prominence.
"Song
For Staes" has a U2 technique escorted by a tinge of arrogance almost.
There’s a hidden religious ambiance to the track, and it’s practically
expected to hear Van begin praising a higher being.
A lulling guitar can be heard as a constant in each song, and in
"Glory,"
there are even some hints of Coldplay. Inspiring, the track takes more
of an
emotion stronghold towards the end, as does the album as a whole. The
lyrics
are heartfelt and Van really has grasped onto learning how to tug at
other’s
heartstrings. Overall there is a solemnity to it, but the production is
encouraging, gleaming with possibility.
Solarcade just needs to find their own, as they seem to be searching
still.
Their direction is befitting-- HIM’s resplendence with settled, placid
guitar layout. Aliens and Angels is but their debut, so only time and a
little refinement will tell.
