Recover – Ceci N'Est Pas Recover
Release Date: 2002
Record Label: Fiddler Records
Five years ago a band called Recover from Austin, Texas (pronounced ‘Awesome,’ Texas) released an EP none of their fans could pronounce the name of – Ceci N’Est Pas Recover. The title is of little importance, since all that matters is the music. And it rocks - hard.
Recover walk a genre divide well by minimizing a full on hardcore sound with the subdued vocals of Dan Keyes. To put it another way, Keyes actually sings on the EP, so even cynics of the ‘screamo’ tag can find enjoyment in Ceci N’Est Pas Recover.
Two opening themes explored in the song “Push Push” are fear and hopelessness. Rhythmic hand claps at its start can’t deter from somber lyrics involving the tragedy of dependency. And as they sway with their sound Recover struggle between becoming lost in their pain ("Push Push") and fighting against it ("Sleeper").
Second vocalist Robert Mann joins Keyes in “My Only Cure,” and from that point on the two tackle gang vocal duties reminiscent of Taking Back Sunday circa Tell All Your Friends. Hopelessness is replaced by raw aggression as Mann grates his vocal chords during verses with lines such as, ‘All the blood in my body / Is pouring out slowly / You’re the reason why / I am unholy.’ Keyes remains fluid while singing the choruses and offsets Mann’s rougher style beautifully.
Recover complete their brief EP by using Keyes and Mann to the full potential for the closing track “Inhale Water.” A soft piano intro is hastily replaced by mean guitar riffs and dual vocals culminating in a chorus featuring the best lyrics of the release: ‘And I still can’t decide / If I’m dead or just not alive / I want to keep breathing / Just not in my own skin.’
The piano attempts to build itself back up for an interlude, but Recover quickly tear it down with a final chorus and a graphic message. As if giving up on the calm hopelessness introduced earlier, both singers shout one last brutal image to close the EP: ‘I’ll stab myself to death / I’ll tie you up and make you watch it.’
With its schizophrenic messages and bitter onslaught of emotion, Ceci N’Est Pas Recover is recommended to anyone who finds themselves in a place they can’t escape and is pissed off about it.
I miss Recover oh so much. They are pretty much the funnest band ever. I saw them so many times cause they worked their asses off touring. One time when I saw them the guitar player started bleeding when he was playing and his blood was splattering all over the pick guard or his white guitar and he made no effort to stop it. The next time I saw them was three months later and his guitar was still covered in dried blood. That shit is so fucking tough. I miss the hell out of this band. RxIxPx Recover. Let's all hope for a reunion tour very, very soon because Young Love just isn't cutting it. Also, does anyone know if Robert Mann has another band going now?
I miss Recover oh so much. They are pretty much the funnest band ever. I saw them so many times cause they worked their asses off touring. One time when I saw them the guitar player started bleeding when he was playing and his blood was splattering all over the pick guard or his white guitar and he made no effort to stop it. The next time I saw them was three months later and his guitar was still covered in dried blood. That shit is so fucking tough. I miss the hell out of this band. RxIxPx Recover. Let's all hope for a reunion tour very, very soon because Young Love just isn't cutting it. Also, does anyone know if Robert Mann has another band going now?
Brian McTernan Baby!!!!!.....Great Great Producer.....their follow up major label release was WAY over produced....they should have kept McTernan.....their loss
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