Austin Sound

EPs as a format have come to serve a number of useful functions for artists. They can be tightly distilled little nuggets that capture a band at a certain point in their evolution, a cohesive and full narrative in and of its self. They can also be a dump of random material that simply doesn’t fit in with the vision of a larger project or album, unreleased material that is worthy to be heard, but incongruous with a band’s typical vision. And they can also signal a transition for a band, easing fans into what to expect without forcing the harsh shift in a dramatic new direction on a new LP. Where exactly the Octopus Project’s new EP, Golden Beds sits in their oeuvre and functions for the band can’t really be seen until we see where they head on their next full-length, but the release could very well be heard as representing any of these conceptions of the EP. For sure, even with just the five songs, there is a new sound to the O-Pro that could very well hint at big aesthetic changes for the quartet in the future, but the EP also gestures in a number of different directions and could simply be the purging of quality material that simply doesn’t flow with the group’s overall sound. Golden Beds could just be the odd hiccup in their trajectory, or it could be the work that we look back to in the future that harbingered a sea change; either way, it’s a compelling offering from one of Austin’s most dynamic musical ambassadors.

The first two tracks are the most interesting among the batch, though both have been available on a 7” released last year in the UK. The notable feature of the songs is their vocal emphasis – while 2007’s fantastic Hello, Avalanche hinted at the emerging lyrical element to the group’s familiar electro-instrumentalism, with the closing track “Queen” burying in harmonies into the din of sound, the vocals were not a driving force, merely an indistinct part of the whole. With “Wet Gold” and “Moon Boil,” however, the group seems to step out from that vocal aversion, and the results are worth the risk of re-invention. “Wet Gold” feels comfortably and distinctly Octopus Project, charming and chiming even with the unsettling lyrical undercurrent. The harmonies are even-keeled and delivery even more subdued. “Moon Boil,” on the other hand, packs a furious burst of distortion and fuzz to “Wet Gold’s” calm ripples. The drums thrust with power, and the guitars show off with unprecedented force. While the vocals are blanketed in the static, the song erupts with an almost unrepentant 90s Grunge feel.

The other three tracks, however, are decidedly different. As all three were written earlier, it’s not surprising that they don’t quite feel connected. “Rorol” is rehashed and flushed out from the group’s 2002 debut, Identification Parade, and drops the pace back down to an eerie and plodding crawl after “Moon Boil’s” eruption. With only a stark Theremin and delicate, deftly deployed guitar opening, the song slowly builds with the addition of drums, though still seems to not ever fully develop. “Wood Trumpet” and “Half a Nice Day” are both holdover’s from Octopus Projects’ Hello, Avalanche sessions, and while the former sounds like more traditional post-rock given a solid O-Pro slant, the latter explores down more electronic avenues with soft beats.

Also of note, of course, are the seven videos that are included with the EP. Given Octopus Project’s intense visual aesthetic, it’s nice to have these included, which feature the Zellner Bros. stunning adaptations of the group’s songs and a live video of their unforgettable performance at the ACL Festival last year. As wonderful as all of this material is, however, it is still difficult to judge in the context of the band’s larger trajectory. Golden Beds could easily simply be serving as the collection of disparate material into one convenient package, or we could be hearing the incubation of an entirely new phase for the band. Either way, it’s a worthwhile contribution, but just how worthwhile really won’t be assessable until we see the full, concentrated product of their vision with their next offering.

Websites:
www.theoctopusproject.com
Myspace