Wellwater Conspiracy - The Scroll And Its Combinations
Band/Album General Information
Matt Cameron: vocals, drums, guitars, keyboards
John McBain: bass, drums, guitars, keyboards
Numerous others are responsible for backing vocals and guitars as well as strings and a saxophone.
So you're probably asking what the hell kind of band this is... well allow me to explain. Soundgarden's Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd, and Monster Magnet's John McBain formed this band several years ago as a side project. By the release of
Scroll, the band's third album, Ben Shepherd's part in the band seems to have decreased significantly, as he is no longer listed as an official band member and only appears on one track; however he was responsible in the project getting off the ground.
The style of music Wellwater Conspiracy produces is very retro and relaxed. It has a psychedelic sound but it incorporates more recent styles of music as influences, resulting in something that reminds you of Pink Floyd much more than Soundgarden or Monster Magnet. The thing with Wellwater Conspiracy is that their music is very well done and high of quality, which makes it very enjoyable and comfy to listen to. To many these songs will feel like instant classics.
I am not sure of the current status of the band... it would appear they are still active. They have four CDs out, of which I have the last three, and I like
Scroll the best of the three. It was also the first one I heard, so perhaps that plays a part. Nevertheless, this is a band I definately wish more people knew, simply because of how much my friends and I (and everyone we play Wellwater for) love them.
Overall Rating
3.5 / 5 on the MX review scale. This band is very much worth an investigation if you're into classic rock and the various modern flavours of rock that are somewhere between light and heavy. It's smooth like Soundgarden, poppy like Coldplay, and trippy like Floyd, and that's about the best I can do to describe it. Listen to some sample tracks from this CD if you can. If you happen to utterly despise Soundgarden or classic rock then this CD is not for you.
Track Review
Song rating is relative to the rest of the album, with a 5 indicating the best song(s) on the album and a 1 indicating tracks that simply should never had gone into production.
Tidepool Telegraph (5:01)
5 / 5. This song opens up with a flowing intro riff and heads right into a mess of guitars surrounding your head. The drums walk in and the song begins. A rock song in the classic style with a bit more distortion and complexity than a true classic pop rock number. There are numerous little guitar leads everywhere and the song has a very pleasant, watery sound to it. This is common to many songs on this CD... true to the band name, they have a watery feel. A cool, fuzzed solo followed by a breif interlude divides this song into two managable parts, and by the time the last notes ring out it really doesn't feel like you've just listened for five minutes to the longest song on the album. A quality opener and preview of the album ahead.
I Got Nightmares (2:17)
4 / 5. This song is based heavily on the maracas and other interesting percussion that dominates the intro. It has a very classic feel to it with a catchy riff and vocals that follow it exactly. There are a lot of 60's songs that sound like this one, although they lack the interesting and short solos this song has laid around throughout. Fun, but short.
C, Myself and Eye (4:04)
4 / 5. This song starts right out on a verse with a dominant bassline. A taste of trippy as the carefree chord sequences take the lyrics all around and up and down. A flanging effect comes in for the second verse, and there's a nice twangy interlude. The guitar filled outro uses some interesting effects and an odd timing.
Tick Tock 3 O'clock (1:46)
4 / 5. This song is silly with cute and cartoony lyrics. After all the words are churned out the predictable quarter note guitar hits fall away for a slightly heaver part. They return again for a moment as the song comes to a close. Another quick and fun number, this song starts and ends with a birdcall blast and is designed as a little prelude to the next track, which also deals with a clock.
What Becomes of the Clock (4:08)
4.5 / 5. Very trippy. Starts out with quivering guitars moaning about and is quickly joined by a trotting bass and drumline. The vocals (by Gerry Amandes) have the same quivering flange walking through the song in an enchanting way. The chorus is powerful and trumpet-like with the variety of guitar sounds present. A very complex and mysterious track that you can really get into, this reminds me of Floyd although it is distinctly different. Towards the end a variety of sound effects join in for an interesting and delightful finale.
Felicity's Surprise (3:42)
5 / 5. Bursts in with several flavours of guitar and a bass, then slows down to a lone guitar for a few bars. A commanding drumline steps in and the rest of the rhythm guitars join as some particularly deep and beautiful vocals by "Wes C. Addle" (Eddie Vetter) form the verse. The song just keeps on going forward and suddenly in bursts a minor chord to begin the chorus sequence. A very pretty and relaxing song with an emotional chorus that still manages to keep a very positive feel. My favourite track on this CD.
Now, Invisibly (2:38)
3.5 / 5. A somewhat heavy intro and an odd time signature are the first impressions this song leaves on you. It's a very unique layout with guitars that get you involved, a strong bassline, and excellent drumming that pulls it all together throughout the different sections of the song. Just when you don't know what to expect next a solo falls into your lap. And on that note, it comes to an end just as suddenly.
Of Dreams (3:36)
4 / 5. A strong powerchord introduces this song and the bass comes dancing right in. The unique sounding lead played at points throughout the verses is short and sweet and unforgettable. Like many other tracks on
Scroll, this song has a very Alice-in-Wonderland type feel to it as it progresses... however this one actually has lyrics dealing with Wonderland. I would love for this song to be playing in the background of a good daydream; it's like floating around while guitars herald every new sight.
Brotherhood of Electric (3:32)
4.5 / 5. The phrase 'Brotherhood of Electric' is something Wellwater Conspiracy seems to be big on. It's the main title of their second album, and also the name of this track. This instrumental comes in on a bit of a minor note and quickly gains speed, featuring solos by all sorts of guitars with all sorts of sounds and filters applied to them. A very neat little electric number featuring curious-sounding bass solos and all sorts of leads. Then halfway through the sound effects hit you and stick and the track just heads on, reinvigorated. Awesome and smooth.
The Scroll (3:43)
4 / 5. This song starts out with odd drumming and then picks up into a standard track with hammer-on riffs that add a far-off feel. Following along with the main lyrics is a most pecular sounding voice produced with some sort of pitch shift effect... reguardless, it's enchanting as hell. Don't let it distract you from all the cool progressions and the cruising lead guitar line. Yet another short interlude without lyrics followed by a short buildup back to the main rhythm of the song provides the closing 30 or so seconds of this song.
Keppy's Lament (2:36)
3 / 5. Odd sounding introduction and fast paced drums make this quiet song feel like it's occuring inside a cave. It doesn't focus on music as much as sound effects and other interesting stuff like that. It's a very Floydish track with good use of sound effects... something that is more present on their earlier CDs than this one. It makes for a neat little conclusion to the CD, almost like the upbeat music played as people leave an auditorium after a concert.
Conclusion
This CD's strength comes from its very pleasant and enjoyable, yet distinctly unique sound. It makes me feel like I'm in a far off country, or cascading down a stream, and that sort of thing. There is a lot of guitar present on this CD, and although none of it is ultra-complicated, no track has two guitars with exactly the same sound. The result is that you feel many
different guitars and sounds on each track, making for one menagerie of a listening experience. This CD isn't entirely perfect... for one, it's short. I would have liked to see the last track compressed into an outro for
The Scroll or something, and some of the shorter songs extended just a bit. Also, a lot of the lyrics make very little sense (but that's really not something you need to make a good album). Otherwise, this CD is a very nice piece of work that really should have gotten noticed more than it was.
One of my main goals with this review, besides evaluating a really good CD, was to introduce at least a few new people to Wellwater Conspiracy. I hope I've achieved that purpose so tell me what you think.
