The Project_Pale is an incorporation of guitars, synths and bass performed by two people and a drum machine. The results attained are very inspiring on Our Inventions and How They Fail Us.
Jason Selden plays the guitars and synths while providing vocals and Submerged, interesting name, is on bass guitar, synths, sensii*starr and vocals, and of course The Machine is taking care of all the drum sounds.
This is not a bunch of thoughtless techno mumbo jumbo disguised as hopeful music; this is good talent using the tools in front of them to make a valid statement with music that has equal parts metal, rock and electronic to fill in all the space.
The tracks with vocals are good but the music is so overpowering, particularly the bass with heavy overtones that the Vox Humana gets lost in the mix and you can barely understand the words. Even so, I liked it just as much as the brilliant instrumental tracks. I don’t always have to understand the vocals to enjoy the music; it has never been a prerequisite with my listening requirements although if the music is intended to make a point with the lyrics that is different. In this case I think it is more important that people understand what they are doing with the music on a technical and improvisational level.
Best track hands down is “No Help Coming”. It rocks straight ahead and the electronics are an added bonus that gives it an industrial edge that ebbs and flows like the ocean tide at night. “Transatlantic” is my next pick and a powerful selection to close out the album. It has some nice textures and atmospheres whilst changing up the pace from moody and gradual to a sudden kick into overdrive with a heavy emphasis on the synth side of the house. All in all a very tightly produced composition that shows off what these two talents can manage to throw at you in a single track.
Overall this music is for those open to something different with an experimental edge that is light years away from what you will find in top forty charts in the pages of Billboard Magazine.
After giving this CD a few spins it is apparent that Selden and Submerged can pack a wallop with what they have at their disposal. Two people ending up sounding like five and to put the icing on the cake, this is very cool music.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
May 11, 2009
