Review Summary: About Group plays the first thing that comes into its head, with compelling results and surprisingly complex atmospheres.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to gather some of your favorite musicians together and just have one long, epic jam session? Surely it is something that music fanatics across the world fantasize about – the beauty and brilliance behind pure improvisation and allowing the mood of that very moment to dictate your music’s direction. When this is accomplished successfully, there is a sense of artistic worth that accompanies something so unstructured, yet so unbridled in its ability to convey emotion. About Group is a band formed around these principals, and with the release of their sophomore effort entitled
Start and Complete, they are sure to create a buzz with their novel approach to songwriting.
About Group was formed in 2009 by the merging of Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Charles Hayward (This Heat), John Coxon (Spring Heel Jack, Spiritualized) and Pat Thomas to form an indie super group of sorts. Admittedly, they aren’t the biggest names out there, but their skills mesh very well - and upon listening to
Start and Complete, it is suffice to say that this is each respective members’ most ambitious project to date. With motives inspired purely by the chemistry between these musicians, we are faced with something that sounds admirable but rarely translates well onto full-length records. Fortunately, About Group overcomes the threat of over-ambition with an abundance of ideas, a knack for diversity, and a connection between artists that is simply irreplaceable.
Start and Complete is an intriguing record right off the bat, without so much as a single listen. It was recorded in one day at Abbey Road and mixed for an additional three, ensuring that fans get an end product damn near to the real thing. The concept of the album isn’t a storyline or recurring theme, but rather that every band member plays the first thing to come into his head,
in the moment, without having a chance to second guess or overanalyze his decision. This prevents anyone from having too large of a role, or any specific role for that matter, because no aspect of the music is linear. It is constantly changing, shifting, and evolving…and that is what makes the best moments on
Start and Complete such a pleasure to listen to. ‘Don’t Worry’ is a prime illustration of About Group at its best, with textured layers providing an ambient forefront to Taylor’s glossy but heartfelt vocals. ‘Married to the Sea’, a track split into an intro/outro for the album, is brief in its duration but rich in instrumental ingenuity. A funk/jazz vibe can be felt throughout ‘Nothing But Words’, a groovy ballad that ebbs and flows with a comforting rhythm crafted by bluesy electric guitars and steady drumming. Other tracks introduce an even wider variety of genre influences, with moments heavily inspired by piano, organ, synthesizer, and shuffling electronic beats. Nothing is held back here, making
Start and Complete a limitless album for a band with no boundaries.
The album’s only real fault is its lack of consistency, which is something that might have been expected considering About Group’s variable methods of experimentation. They shoot for the stars frequently, hitting more pinnacles than one might expect, but also suffering periodic dips. These figurative valleys don’t suffer in terms of quality (About Group’s musicianship is top-of-the-line, all the time) but instead in their ability to distinguish themselves, stand on their own, and have an impact. A large portion of
Start and Complete floats by, like a lifeless ghoul that can have no contact or interaction with the human realm. Close analysis of the technical aspects of songs like the title track and ‘There’s a Way to End This Run of Doubt’ showcase plenty of effort – in fact, some of the band’s best improvisations are actually present here – but they also reveal songs with no
snap, no
crackle…no
pop.
Start and Complete could have benefited from a few more authoritative exhibitions; moments that just blow the listener away. For the most part, though, we are left with a whole lot of
really good…only not quite as many emphatic moments of greatness.
About Group set out to create this record with some pretty lofty goals, and it is very rewarding to see them “start” and “complete” such a fine piece. This is one of those albums that will be sure to captivate portions of the indie scene, if for no other reason because it is so unique. Beyond that, we are simply rewarded with a slew of solid to above average tracks, occasionally venturing into brilliant territory, that are exceptionally easy to listen to. The whole thing flows well, sounds good, and is diverse enough to adapt itself to anyone’s musical preference.
Start and Complete should make waves, and they deserve all the buzz they can muster over their latest LP.
