New Idea Society - Somehow Disappearing

Somehow Disappearing (2010) was released on Shiny Shoes Records towards the end of last Summer and represents New Idea Society's third full length and fourth overall release (including one EP also released last year called Quiet Prism). I chose the debut release You Are Awake Or Asleep (2005) as one of my first albums to write about last year. New Idea Society is primarily Mike Law's creative avenue as he is responsible for vocals, guitar, and writing. Juxtaposing the debut release (or even the follow up album, The World Is Bright And Lonely) and this album really demonstrates the progress and growth Law and the group have taken, reaching their current state. The sound is indie rock, with an incorporation but not over-reliance on varying the instrumentation through keyboards/electronics. The core guitar, bass, drums, and vocals are still the bread 'n butter here, but finally here on this album the mix is just right. I find the songwriting more creative and willing to take more risks than on previous works. I think this has been made possible in part due to the excellent recording quality and production. There's a feel that things were just hitting right in the recording space, resulting in a tight and full sound.


New Idea Society - "Thorns"

What can you say about that low end, it makes its presence known at the onset in an almost thundering fashion and remains there throughout the duration of the song, providing a backbone. The keyboards, percussion, and vocals all kick in, for the first few versus, and the subsequent part features harmonized singing with guitar that sounds just perfect in relation to the keyboards within the song. This song is bass, bass, and more bass, freeing up the other instruments to pop in and out without disrupting the flow and progress of the song. The lyrics of the chorus are peculiarly powerful sounding to me, not sure why, but it is good.



New Idea Society - "Desolation Tongues"

I love how the song begins, a little more menacing than anything else on the album. The piano and percussion/drum combination keeping the breathtaking tempo is very well done. An almost suspense movie feel, while the chorus sections have a very serious and decisive tone. The percussive play on the ride cymbal is perhaps my favorite part, and in general I get the feeling that this was one of the "funner" songs to play as far as percussion goes. Echoing the vocals as opposed to layering was a nice touch, particularly with the word "echo" showing up in the lyrics. The closing is an instrumental part of the song, highlighted by the piano accenting. I felt a few songs didn't seem to end quite as well, but this one was right on the mark.

As I write this New Idea Society is touring Europe in support of this album. You can check out there tour progress at their facebook page. You can also find more information on the band at their webpage, newideasociety.com. The mp3 album is available through Amazon, and in cd format as well. Truly an album that is growing and growing on me, and I feel is likely the group's best produced when considering all aspects of the within.

Eulcid - The Wind Blew All The Fires Out

Continuing from my previous post on New Idea Society, and Mike Law in specific, I figured I'd post on his previous band Eulcid. The Wind Blew All The Fires Out (2000) sits pretty well in the post-hardcore genre, lots of discordant guitar and abrupt shifts, though not enough to weaken the song structures and continuity. The Boston group was composed of Law on guitar and vocals, Matt Redmond on drums, and Chris Rache on bass. As a band they existed between 1988 and 2002, when the members splintered off. There's definitely an element of Fugazi in here, and the band did open for them in Boston, and some of that Boston metal/hardcore sound (Converge/Kid Kilowatt) in the instrumental portion.


Eulcid - "Reaction Impulse Theory"

This is the first track on the album and is a pretty good introduction into the band's sound. Drums lead right into jagged vocals and steady guitar and bass, that finally relent, though the drumming keeps active all the time. A wall of guitar briefly allows the bass to take prominence for a short interlude than back into the jagged vocals and guitar, until Law's line, "...I move too slow" indicates a change in both instrumentation and vocals, a calming little bit of the song, before the final minute of the song which goes in many directions (and can be quite rewarding if followed).

The flow from one song to another is a strength within this album, and
unfortunately not something I'm able to really demonstrate here as the next song I'm posting occurs later in the album. But on the album this first song "Reaction Impulse Theory" runs right into, "To The Death Of Intellectualism", which slides right into "Single Sender". Its very well done and obviously a conscious effort to linking the album as a whole was made.


Eulcid - "The Ocean Vs. The Sand"

Here's a bit of a departure, a song that moves a bit slower than the others, similar to the title track on the album in its pacing and structure. The guitar sores over the bass and drums, leading the way and adventuring off on its own. The drum beat remains a creative little play on the snare throughout the background. The instruments come together for a few lines then fall back into the pattern already described. The vocals are sung with a bit softer edge relative to the rest of the album. I enjoy how the song just seems to end and has a moment of silence before the final song of the album starts.

Most of the songs are complex in that they pack many individual yet cogent parts. Certainly something that is best listened to intently to fully enjoy. Following this release was Hope: And Songs To Sing there last release and in some ways a bridge from Eulcid to New Idea Society in regards to Mike Law's musical development.

New Idea Society - You Are Awake or Asleep

New Idea Society was a collaboration between Mike Law and Steve Brodsky when You Are Awake or Asleep was being recorded (released in 2005). Though its Law who remains and New Idea Society is really his project at this point, releasing another album The World is Bright and Lonely in 2007 without Brodsky (who has fronted Cave In and his own solo project). Law, was part of Eulcid, prior to beginning New Idea Society, which was a pretty good band in its own right. New Idea Society progresses through the post-punk/indie sound, but doesn't immediately resemble anything I've heard exactly. This album is interesting to me in how it comes across as a collection of songs with little cohesion in their sound, less fluid than the following album, but is enjoyable in its variety.


New Idea Society - "Create Your Own Emergency"

Simple yet catchy guitar is followed by electronic blip and vocals, harmonizing well. The keyboard elements are also fairly simple, but really brings life to the song. I really like the lyrics and whole premise of the song.

This tank that I am in.
How I am feeling. I am feeling.
Put a piranha in with me.
Emergency.

Hang a picture on the wall.
On a hook that is too small.
Sit on a chair underneath until it falls.
Create your own emergency.

Sometimes going away from what's safe and comforting leads a person to growth that would otherwise not happen. Facing one's own anxieties and throwing themselves into it, overcoming it, and truly experiencing different elements of life. This song stands out in its lightness, more upbeat than most of the songs on this album.


New Idea Society - "The Aching Bells"

Rare use of the harmonica starts things off. Acoustic guitar and a few different percussion sounds along with supporting keyboards. First instrumental part is covered by a little harmonica, then electric guitar comes in along with the harmonica during the second instrumental part, bridging right along. The backing/supporting vocals are powerful, not in loudness or anything of that nature, but rather accenting the lyrical passages, adding an almost church choirish element.

There really isn't a bad song on here, and the recording is solid enough, I'm sure the band may have liked to do a more formal job on it, but it doesn't detract. There's very little flash in this release, and they don't come off as trying too hard to be "poppy", which is good. One of my favorite moments within this album is the perfect pairing of "Storm In My Eyes" being followed by "Create Your Own Emergency". The former song is just so wonderfully slow paced, somber, and introspective, having it be followed by "Create Your Own Emergency" was an excellent choice as I noted above, the song really sticks out in its upbeat and catchy writing. I'm looking forward to reviewing the second album here, and also heard that Law and the other members that form the band now are prepping the third full length release in the coming months.