Ben Weinman is a recent graduate from Kenyon College. He is responsible for the vocals, guitar, sax and synths for his band. He is backed by Jesse Glass (drums), Brian Sellers (lead guitars), Eric Schwartz (slide guitar) and Kathryn Dawdy (bass). Originally, the band members were a part of the Kenyon Jazz Ensemble but wanted to go in a different direction by forming their own band. On their debut Heat EP, which was recorded at the Kenyon College WKCO Studio, the band merges tons of ambiance into their sound. Packed to the brim with mood and feeling, the songs on this collection combine setting and atmosphere to produce a truly resonating vibe. The EP is an accompaniment to Weinman’s Creative Writing thesis, which talks about “growth through difficult and intense circumstances and solace – what and where we look for comfort.” The EP emerges as a more diluted version of the manuscript, dealing with these themes in a more snapshot-like format. With the Heat EP, the band comes right at you with a great alternative sound that also gets you thinking.
The EP opens up with “Crown Sprout,” as a soft melody on guitar slowly builds in the backdrop, some quiet vocals eventually join in. The sound is very soothing and smooth, sounding a lot like a lullaby. I thought Weinman’s vocals were very stirring, ebbing and flowing with great emotion. The music backing him was also very powerful. At moments this reminded me of Bon Iver. “Sagebush” felt very melodic in tone. There was also a pop element to this song that made it feel inviting. I greatly enjoyed the energy of this piece. I thought the reverb was also nicely done here. The guitar solo was a straight up bluesy number that added a distinctive finish to the track. On “Suntune,” what sounds like lap steel guitar adds a disconcerting vibe towards the start of this song. More subdued vocals come in, keeping the ambiance alive. As a drumming beat enters, the music feels like classic rock being done in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The folksy and warm tones really made the sound feel comforting and soothing. As synths settle in, the sound of the acoustic guitar contributes to the vibes on “Orion.” Feeling like a slow burn, the energy here keeps to the soothing sound of the earlier tracks. Moody bass lines keep the tone even. The groove here was sauntering and has a way of growing on you. The band keeps things consistent with the warm tones on this soft closer. Soft yet biting, there is a bit of disquiet seen in this album. Underneath the surface is a restlessness that adds a bit of raw edginess to the overall recording. You can tell that a lot of thought goes into this record. This was a good introduction to the band’s sound and I look forward to seeing how they will evolve from here.
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