It’s not strange kind of focus, but rather out of focus. Time and Energy delivering a strange mixture of Afro-beats, Blues/Country/Folk roots and Beck flavored Indie vibes with some Rufus Wainwright taste-like vivid whatever. “Loop Rock”? Eventually. But pretty hard to chew being not under influence and the taste is questionable. And well, I’m quite trained to listening anything, even considering the construction site next to my building a musical revolution. When the 7th track, “Sitting On a Scale” started almost as a classic The Beatles song, it was a release. Up till then, “Strange Kind of Focus” sounded like a mixtape on acid. The very next “O’Molly” have that raw wickedness of some early The White Stripes tracks, it’s that kind of perfect menage of Blues and Indie/Garage Rock – and it’s probably the best moment of the album. And the following “Think it Through” it’s not that bad too, or simply I get used with their layered and sometimes antagonist sound. The closing “Acid Jam” it’s build upon a Latino foundation, but just as its title suggest, it’s an Acid Jam, after a few pleasant seconds the whole thing get out of control and became quite dangerous.
This is an experiment and I do respect that. The result? Well, not really sure of. “Name your price” for the digital download it’s a fair approach and listen first at your own risk. I would start with track 7 or 8.
Official release note and bio:
Two heads are always better than one, right? For Santa Ana, California’s Time and Energy, two friends have teamed up to form a dynamic duo, utilizing a smorgasbord of instruments and looping techniques to concoct a unique cocktail of experimental rock. Part live performance and part pre-recorded samples and loops, the pair of childhood friends perpetually generate a wall of powerful, yet balanced sounds as they ready their new LP Strange Kind of Focus.
Formed out of the ashes of a 4-piece rock band, Jorge Rios and Brennan Roach picked up where their departed bandmates left off, deciding to assume control of all musical duties in their absence. Vocals, guitar, bass, keys and percussion fall into Rios’ capable hands, while his counterpart Roach contributes equal parts drums, percussion, bass, guitar, keys and clarinet. Coupled with their mastery of loops and samples, the duo builds songs into grandiose crescendos, inviting new dimensions and rhythms to the musical party which would otherwise be impossible.
Their debut Entertainica crash landed on the independent music scene three years after forming, featuring a smattering of unique experimental tracks laced with hints of indie, blues, jazz and electronica. The ebb and flow of the record continuously swerves in and out of numerous influences and genres, heightening Time and Energy’s affinity for fearless creativity and jam-based songwriting formula.
Now Rios and Roach are preparing to take the next step, having self-recorded their follow-up album “Strange Kind of Focus” at a house in the woods of Santa Cruz County. With one West coast tour already under their belts, they are currently booking live dates throughout California and beyond while shopping the new LP to prospective labels.
“Strange Kind of Focus” was release on November 16th, 2012.
Time and Energy – official Site
Time and Energy @ Bandcamp
Time and Energy @ Facebook
Time and Energy @ Twitter
Via Independent Music Promotions
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_nAVBADcWY&w=545&h=307]
