Codeseven – Dancing Echoes, Dead Sounds

Every once in a while a band comes around that will pop up in almost every conversation I have about music and new bands. For the past few months everybody I talked to on this subject would mention this band Codeseven and their new album, and just how great it is. Everyone from some random guy I met on the subway to Matt Davies of Funeral For A Friend told me to check out this album, which I did. And they were right; this is a top-notch album which deserves all the buzz.

The album begins with a short introduction track before heading into All The Best Dreams, a slightly upbeat song which introduces what the album has to offer. This isn’t generic music; it isn’t the normal rock that consumes the airwaves all day. It’s relaxing, but at the same time intricate. You can put it on in the background and not be distracted by it, but you can also listen closely and pick up on just how talented these guys really are. The guitar work on the album is subtle yet brilliant, accompanied at times by piano/organ tracks which compliment each song perfectly. The vocals are smooth and sharp at the same time, calm to the ears. But not all tracks have vocals, such is the case with Shalo, an instrumental which does it’s job in the middle of the album, calming the pace down just a touch.

While listening through the album I can’t really think of any band I would use a reference. It’s gentle music but it’s not slow in any sense other than speed. It’s vocally driven but backed by wondrous instruments, woven together with precision. I can’t think of any other band out there that has mastered the art of dynamics and capturing emotion as Codeseven has with this album. I can see myself putting this on in the basement as chilling music, but also in the car as cruising tunes. This may not be music to mosh to, but that doesn’t mean it won’t move your body.

One thing I found interesting about Codeseven is the members themselves. Three brothers and two friends of the family, joined together for the sake of making music. What they’ve done is bring you an album which is really very versatile. It’s a relaxing collection of songs but it’s not boring in any sense. It’s something new in a day of reinvention. In my opinion, everyone needs an album like this; something you can put on while people are over that won’t interfere with conversation but is still enjoyable and well made. This record is well worth all the hype.