Tag Results: album review
This Is Not A Scene, It’s A Review of Zechs Marquise “Getting Paid”
One cursory glance at the cover of the latest album, Getting Paid by El Paso based Zechs Marquise would lead the listener to believe they were about to listen to an album of intense bass laden funk or an album of children’s songs by the Animal Kwackers. Three of the band members are brothers Marcel, Marfred and Rikardo Rodriguez-Lopez, who are brothers of The Mars Volta’s Omar, so a certain rich family heritage in progressive music may be apparent from the offset. The production is razor sharp as is befitting an album that is both technically proficient and intricate, as it is soulful and, yes, funky as hell.
The title track, and opening piece ‘Getting Paid’ starts with an echo which is reminiscent of any number of electronic synthesiser tunes, before the funk encumbered bass pushes any belief of that aside to make way for a mathematically complex series of riffs and phrases which mark out the characteristics of this album early on. ‘Lock Jaw Night Vision’ retains the qualities of the previous track, but is somehow also infused with further levels of energy, exhilaration and haste which give it a need to sweep the funk to one side. There are any number of tempo and mood changes within its’ 5 short minutes to bewilder the first time listener.
Highlander Radar: Zechs Marquise “Getting Paid” Album Review
The Rodríguez-López family line of music continually pours into the new decade as Mars Volta guru Omar Rodríguez-López passes the torch to his three brothers Marcel, Marfred and Rikardo, who all share a groovy spot in the El Paso based instrumental group ZechsMarquise. “Getting Paid,” the band’s second full-length album, proves to be a concrete epic that borders a variety of experimental sounds and psychotropic jamming fever. Compared to their debut “Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare,” this album strays away from the usual mindless noodling and brings forth a set of solid instrumental tracks, each of which have a unique vibe and feeling.
The album immediately lifts off as the title track brings in an enticing and tight groove accompanied by eerie synth harmonies. “Lock Jaw Night Vision” starts off with a haunting ambient aroma not long before guitars start jamming to dub stepped effects. Soon enough all hell breaks loose as the whole band thrashes an expansive progression of chords. “The Heat, The Drought, The Thirst and The Insanity” slows things down with a guest vocal spot by Sunnie Baker backed by psychedelically despaired riffs and evocative synth. “Time Masters” is another clever track with fast raging synth mixed in with bongo percussion that slowly leads to an intensive and wide ranging infusion of sound. The album continues on with the bongos as the band delivers a tight sentimental groove on“Guajira.” This song holds a strong similarity to a Mars Volta track in its structure but is unique in its essence.
402 Productions: Getting Paid Album Review
The first thing that needs to be said about Zechs Marquise is their blood relation to progressive psychedelic rock group The Mars Volta. Reading up on their history, I was obnoxiously excited to see that Omar Rodriguez-Lopez has three brothers in this band. Anyone who’s anyone knows the immense trip that Volta can produce on an album or playing live. Much of this impact is due to Omar’s flawless, frantic guitar riffs that compare to no other. That being said, one can only hope that his musical brethren are equally as talented. If Getting Paid were a movie like its cinematically styled cover art implies, the parts to the whole should result in a blockbuster.
The Pros:
From the beginning drum burst of “Getting Paid,” this album gets down to business immediately. Get used to the Rage Against The Machine-esque drum-bass-guitar combination. Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez pounds the floor with his set of skins constantly; you are never left with a quiet moment. He is never unaccompanied by his brother Marfred on the bass; (Marcel apparently took Rikardo’s spot in the studio for supplying keyboards, but they still sound amazing). Their sound is pure thunder. “Mega Slap” epitomizes the band’s sound as a whole. The flow never ceases, and most simply put, Getting Paid practically oozes macho volition.
From the beginning drum burst of “Getting Paid,” this album gets down to business immediately. Get used to the Rage Against The Machine-esque drum-bass-guitar combination. Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez pounds the floor with his set of skins constantly; you are never left with a quiet moment. He is never unaccompanied by his brother Marfred on the bass; (Marcel apparently took Rikardo’s spot in the studio for supplying keyboards, but they still sound amazing). Their sound is pure thunder. “Mega Slap” epitomizes the band’s sound as a whole. The flow never ceases, and most simply put, Getting Paid practically oozes macho volition.
