(Of
course, there’s always the off chance he might not be. But for the sake of this
review and for the strengthening of your relationship with imaginative, soul
stirring, thought provoking, comfort zone stretching art, let’s just say that
he is.)
It’s no
secret that Derek Webb’s artistic backstory is intricately laced with the
equally beautiful and beneficial threads of creativity and controversy. After
years of earning a deeply loyal fanbase with college folk troubadours Caedmon’s
Call, he embarked on a solo career that allowed him the freedom to put only his
own lyrical head on the block, while still maintaining some of the sonic
similarities of his previous band. As he challenged his own creative limits
with each new album, the (seemingly to some) drastic aural jump of 2009’s Stockholm
Syndrome sent many fans seeking refuge in the (seemingly to some) safe
confines of his earlier albums. Never one to create in response or retrograde,
Derek continued to fashion his songwriting with the only palette available to
him at the time, the present one. As Feedback, Democracy, Volume 2 and
his work on the NEXUS soundtrack attests to, anyone who would
hang on for the ride was met with something new and engaging each and every time.
Which
brings us all to his latest release, Ctrl. Have you stuck around
the whole time? Well, Derek’s got something unique for you. Do you only peek
out from behind your burlap edition of My Calm//Your Storm or
your Just Don’t Want Coffee EP whenever he
releases something new to see if “the old Derek” is back? Well, Derek’s got
something unique for you. Are you a new fan won over by his most recent
electronic output? Well, Derek’s got something unique for you. Do you dig shape
note singing, disembodied choirs, nylon string guitars and drum loops? Well,
Derek’s really got something unique for you.
Melodic,
atmospheric and as mellow as anything he’s ever done, Ctrl seems
to simultaneously show Derek at his most comfortable and his most uncomfortable.
There’s an amazing confidence in his arrangements, production and melodies,
especially in the deceptively simplistic, sparser moments. However, within the
lyrics, and even in some of the instrumentation, there seems to be an unsettled
agitation, an itch just out of reach, that keeps Ctrl from
ever getting anywhere near background, easy listening territory. You could try
to put this album on while doing something else, but I guarantee you that it
won’t be long before a lyric, rhythmic pattern or instrumental line will sneak
in and overtake your attention with or without your
permission.
The
first half of Ctrl ebbs and sways pretty easily. Even the
intriguing Sacred Harp choral bursts aren’t that accosting thanks to the gentle
organ strains of “A City With No Name,” the finger-plucked guitar of “And See
the Flaming Skies” and the fantastic, Tom Waits-y oboe of “Blocks.” By
contrast, there’s some gorgeously unsettled vibes found in the agitated
acoustic of “Can’t Sleep,” the chromatic chord pattern of “Pressing on the
Bruise” and the desperation-fueled lyrics of “Blocks.” Of course, there’s also
the aforementioned shape note choir samples popping in here and there, but
after a few listens you’ll be singing (or at least improvising) right along with
them.
The
second half of Ctrl kicks off with “Attonitos Gloria,” the
most upbeat track on the album. With a kinetic, shuffle groove built on a
bubbling fuzz bass line and live drums, it sounds pretty akin to what Derek did
with the SOLA-MI project earlier this year. In fact, there are a multitude of
parallel themes, shared verbiage and connected musical moments between Ctrl and
the NEXUS soundtrack, (including another heartbeat monitor
flatlining and coming back to life) but we’ll leave that to another post. After
“Attonitos Gloria,” the album returns to its quieter, laid-back vibe with more
finger picked acoustic guitars (“I Feel Everything” and “Reanimate”) and more
minimalist melody lines (“A Real Ghost”), before closing things out on a
bouncy, spirited note with “Around Every Corner.”
Even on
its most elemental, surface level, Ctrl could purely be the
album that helps bridge the perceived gap between acoustic guitars and drum
machines for bygone Derek Webb fans. But for anyone who’ll give it a
listen, Ctrl contains a treasure trove of musicality,
ingenuity, honesty, questions, resolutions and much more. No matter your
personal level of interaction with Derek’s music, Ctrl stands
on its own merit, delivering amazing musical performances, mind-thumping
questions and Derek’s crystal clear, unmistakable vocals. Amazing on its own
and possibly more than meets the eye when paired with the NEXUS soundtrack, Ctrl is
absolutely worth your time and attention.
While not "officially" released until September
4, Ctrl can already be ordered directly from Derek (including
an immediate download) in a variety of packages here: derekwebb.com
Great review! My feelings exactly--if you hang with Derek you are surprised and rewarded again and again.
ReplyDelete