Virtual Crate Digging: Under The Bridge
Folks are always asking about what’s new and upcoming but, as shown by the vital and venerable culture of crate digging, looking backwards can also yield unexpected results and reveal hidden gems. And boy oh boy do we have some hidden gems. Let’s dig through our virtual bins of vinyl and see what we find.
Between Electric Extremes
It’s always easy to gravitate towards the most colorful and elaborate album art. Like a firefly, we’re attracted to bright lights and interesting visuals. But when album art is indicative of the mood (like it does in our catalog), our eyes can blind us to options that may better suit the search. After all, not every search requires bombastic future pop or snot rock.
So today we’re taking the road less traveled, to a dusty path that leads us Under The Bridge (UND-45). First and foremost, this is a guitar album. Leave behind whatever preconceived notions you might have of shredding guitar solos or folksy acoustics, this album lives in a space in between. Those extremes leave a lot of room in the middle for an electric guitar to explore, whether it be with ping-pong delays, dynamic overdrive, soaked in reverb, or a combination of all three. In a solo setting, these treatments show an emotive and thoughtful side of the instrument that may surprise you.
Because each UNDERscore release utilizes single mood tracks without shifts in tone or tempo, you get one guitar riff per track. As each track evolves, the subtle dynamic variations provide multiple looks at that riff. It shows far more depth and versatility up front without editors having to work around the usual B section that doesn’t fit. “How To Make It Better” is an excellent example of how a delayed and slightly muted guitar can not only avoid stagnancy, but gracefully grow without changing the core mood.
The sparse and roomy guitar of “Slowing Amplification” has an energy reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix playing a solo, distorted rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Long sustained notes of a simple melody pair with the space between phrases to inject a sort of “introspective power” that can only come from an amplified guitar. It’s loud, but serene; flowing, but determined — contradictory emotions that feel so complimentary.
Under The Bridge is not a flashy or fragile guitar album, but it displays other aspects of the instrument that make it so versatile and appealing. The surprising strength of simple arrangements and organic swells work for human dramas, coming of age introspection, and even corporate messaging — really anything with an emotive backdrop. Embrace the subtle and earnest nature of these tracks along with the muted artwork to find an unexpected soundtrack that explores another side of what an electric guitar can do.
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