Sole and The Skyrider Band :: Plastique

To easily place Sole and the Skyrider Band within a cozy cubbyhole of genre classification… not an easy task. Taken as a whole, this sophomore exercise into out-of-the-box composition couldn’t be more difficult to make comparisons, but there are images and familiar sonic styles that come to mind. Imagine a subtle hint of old school Nine Inch Nails techo industrial. Then, throw in the modern flavor and lyrical approach of the Flobots. Stir vigorously with a dash of the weird imagery perhaps found best in a David Lynch film, and there you go. Stark and eye opening looks at life in a post glam and glitz era, but not quite the dark atmosphere found in their debut album. Sole’s lyrics hit on the social and pop culture front with a tone of sarcastic realism. The Skyrider Band, now located in Los Angeles, is composed of session musician (also works on soundtracks) William Ryan Fritch, drummer John Wagner and their producer Bud Berning. Musically, Plastique is a convergence of electronic and traditional instrumentation; jockeying from serving duty as background atmosphere to providing powerful front and center sonics. From techno to punk to rap, there are many styles intermingling around nine total tracks. To truly appreciate this album, more than one spin will be required – and should be consumed as a whole. Dipping into one track or another will not likely do it justice. The casual listener may misunderstand such a release altogether, and that’s completely reasonable. It’s not for everyone. On the other hand though, this type of album is a genuine reminder that unusual musical expression can find unique niches and angles outside the traditional, and still be music to someone’s ears.

www.myspace.com/soleandtheskyriderband