"The voice is strangely familiar, but who is it?" is the question begging to be answered while auditioning the first track "Control" off the pre-release of this EP. With silvery guitars overlaying a repeating chill-out Wurly electric piano riff, coupled with a great rock and roll voice, Mute Math will hook fans of the 'simple, but just right' guitar school of the Edge and others like him. Another league of future guitarists can latch onto songs like "Control" and do themselves proud in copying the riffs and sound.
When the 2nd track "Peculiar People" gets underway, you might wonder if you are listening to a sampler CD. Instead of the Coldplay meets Switchfoot on tour with U2 sound of the first track, there will be heads bobbing to a bona fide reggae/dub track. "Hmm, could this be the singer from Earthsuit?" More questions. A google search revealed nothing to that effect. The www.mutemath.com website revealed nothing except a chance to join a mailing list.
When the actual EP came in the mail, a few weeks later, printed in the liner notes as the vocalist was the name: Paul Meaney -- former lead singer of the band 'Earthsuit.' A somewhat lucky guess to the question posed in the first two tracks, as Earthsuit never received the heavy airplay that usually accompanies a recognizable voice. It's a testament to vocalist Paul Meaney's unique sound that his songs are so quickly identifiable.
Track 3: "O.K." seems like Mute Math's MOR radio-friendly plea for attention. But unlike the rest of the tracks, it doesn't highlight Meaney's unique vocal abilities, nor the inventive mix of rock, dub, and electronica that the rest of the EP showcases so well.
"Reset," Track 4, offers up an instrumental of tasty electronica beat slicing with an uncomplicated yet beautiful guitar line that could be straight out of New Order's best work. Note to Mute Math: Please provide more of the same on the full-length CD.
"Plan B" and "Progress" (Tracks 5 and 6) get back to the business of giving a platform for Meaney's vocals to soar, with the chorus of "Plan B" sounding like a mix of fretless guitar from King Crimson's Adrian Belew in 'Three of a Perfect Pair', with the raw anguish of Kirk Cobain's most impassioned shout. Certainly a mix you haven't heard before. "Progress" is more radio friendly with Meaney showing he could replace Jon Anderson as 4-Him's next guest vocalist, should they ever ask. "Progress" also includes the EP's final and most memorable lyrics "Every moment in time is just an answer to find what you're here for; what you breathe for; what you wake for; what you bleed for."
"Afterward," the last track, is a simple atmospheric outro assisting meditation on the last lyrics of the EP. Hopefully, the full length CD that may follow this EP uses these last two tracks as the exit of the CD for the same purpose.
In all, the EP is refreshing mix of styles which will please multi-genre music junkies, but may alienate fans that only want to hear tunes from a narrow slice of the sonic rainbow. Such alienation was the demise of Earthsuit. Let's hope it does not result in the same for MuteMath. Christian music needs their creative approach.
4.5 tocks
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