Matthew Tsai
10/31/08, 04:52 PM
Cowalker - Cowalker
Record Label: None
Release Date: 2005
Cowalker is a "little band" currently based in Pennsylvania that makes music that's not "little" at all. Indeed Cowalker, a self titled 5-track EP, finds the band crafting big indie pop/rock anthems that are surprisingly adept for an unsigned act. I truly believe that someday, under the right circumstances, Cowalker could be up there with the big names in the scene. But for now, we are entrusted with this valuable EP to delight in.
Cowalker revs its engine immediately with the ultra-catchy "Lexington and Concord," which features a brief electronic opening before crashing with aggressive guitars, aggressive vocals, and, well, aggressive just about everything. The song is a boomerang you never saw coming, however, as the lyrically attractive chorus quickly becomes annoyingly infectious. This isn't necessarily bad, as it shows the band's capability of constructing a legitimate single. "Damascus" and "X At Aphelion" follow in the same vein of the opener, each accessible indie rock treasures akin to the likes of Dredg. "Lorelei" sounds like a heavier Copeland, while the gorgeous instrumental "Anacrusis" provides the perfect route to the closer "Kali." "Kali" is probably the best track on the EP; an electronic interpretation of Radiohead's Kid A days not unlike that of Thrice's Water EP (keep in mind that this song was recorded some two to three years before The Alchemy Index).
Cowalker was recorded over a span of just two days in the studio, and the band has personally expressed the desire to re-record the tracks to properly nail some aspects of the EP. Their hasty recording schedule is evident in the vocals, which are often off-tune or overly aggressive. Overall though, the production is decent and enjoyable for an independently released project.
However, the real gem of the record lies in not the music, but the lyrics. Now, there are definitely some lines that come off as pretentious or cheesy; "Kali"'s "It hurts no more than it should hurt / Hallelujah / The static receives and the satellites win" comes off as just plain awkward. But wait until you hear this: "Guide your fingers along and pull the seams apart / A brand new artery to replace the dying ones tied to your heart / Pray the veins don't close that it might beat again / Circulating blood to kiss the outer appendages... / When do love and devotion cease to exist? / You bastardized these words and now they haunt your dreams at night while you sleep" (from "Lorelei"). The EP is chock full of beyond-the-surface lyrics that don't for a moment seem cliche. "X At Aphelion" sings "Tabula rasa / their histroy now lies hidden underneath; / A still angelic face, held trawling in a wake of waist deep near-freezing water / Sculls interred in silt and dirt permeate from stem to stern." Feeling epic? Spend some time basking in the lyrics.
The moral of this review is simple: labels, take note of Cowalker. Take advantage of the fact that they're still unknown; sign them and you just might have the next big thing in your hands. Cowalker will probably not make my list of top albums this year, but it's certainly loaded with potential. Sure, there are some jarring aspects here and there, but overall, it's a mighty good EP.
Dredg; Copeland; Radiohead; Holyfield
myspace.com/cowalker (http://www.myspace.com/cowalker)
Record Label: None
Release Date: 2005
Cowalker is a "little band" currently based in Pennsylvania that makes music that's not "little" at all. Indeed Cowalker, a self titled 5-track EP, finds the band crafting big indie pop/rock anthems that are surprisingly adept for an unsigned act. I truly believe that someday, under the right circumstances, Cowalker could be up there with the big names in the scene. But for now, we are entrusted with this valuable EP to delight in.
Cowalker revs its engine immediately with the ultra-catchy "Lexington and Concord," which features a brief electronic opening before crashing with aggressive guitars, aggressive vocals, and, well, aggressive just about everything. The song is a boomerang you never saw coming, however, as the lyrically attractive chorus quickly becomes annoyingly infectious. This isn't necessarily bad, as it shows the band's capability of constructing a legitimate single. "Damascus" and "X At Aphelion" follow in the same vein of the opener, each accessible indie rock treasures akin to the likes of Dredg. "Lorelei" sounds like a heavier Copeland, while the gorgeous instrumental "Anacrusis" provides the perfect route to the closer "Kali." "Kali" is probably the best track on the EP; an electronic interpretation of Radiohead's Kid A days not unlike that of Thrice's Water EP (keep in mind that this song was recorded some two to three years before The Alchemy Index).
Cowalker was recorded over a span of just two days in the studio, and the band has personally expressed the desire to re-record the tracks to properly nail some aspects of the EP. Their hasty recording schedule is evident in the vocals, which are often off-tune or overly aggressive. Overall though, the production is decent and enjoyable for an independently released project.
However, the real gem of the record lies in not the music, but the lyrics. Now, there are definitely some lines that come off as pretentious or cheesy; "Kali"'s "It hurts no more than it should hurt / Hallelujah / The static receives and the satellites win" comes off as just plain awkward. But wait until you hear this: "Guide your fingers along and pull the seams apart / A brand new artery to replace the dying ones tied to your heart / Pray the veins don't close that it might beat again / Circulating blood to kiss the outer appendages... / When do love and devotion cease to exist? / You bastardized these words and now they haunt your dreams at night while you sleep" (from "Lorelei"). The EP is chock full of beyond-the-surface lyrics that don't for a moment seem cliche. "X At Aphelion" sings "Tabula rasa / their histroy now lies hidden underneath; / A still angelic face, held trawling in a wake of waist deep near-freezing water / Sculls interred in silt and dirt permeate from stem to stern." Feeling epic? Spend some time basking in the lyrics.
The moral of this review is simple: labels, take note of Cowalker. Take advantage of the fact that they're still unknown; sign them and you just might have the next big thing in your hands. Cowalker will probably not make my list of top albums this year, but it's certainly loaded with potential. Sure, there are some jarring aspects here and there, but overall, it's a mighty good EP.
Dredg; Copeland; Radiohead; Holyfield
myspace.com/cowalker (http://www.myspace.com/cowalker)