Gabe Pabst is a singer/songwriter from Oklahoma City, OK. Growing up in a household that valued the arts, Pabst started on the violin at the age of nine. He soon picked up the guitar at the age of 11. Both instruments are heavily featured on Pabst’s debut LP Time Tables. All the instruments were performed by Pabst other than the saxophone solo and the drums were recorded over Christmas with his brother who also writes and performs under the name Switchback. The album is a culmination of his experiences in 2020. Joking that 2020 was going to be a great year for clarity and clear vision, Pabst did not anticipate the sort of year it turned out to be. 2020 was an important year for a lot of wrong reasons, forcing a lot of people to reassess their lives. Time Tables reflects a lot of thoughts and beliefs that ended up saturating the nation’s identity, as well as what was going on in Oklahoma City at that time. From the ground up, Pabst has layered in his sound a very familiar sense to the acoustic vibes that listeners will recognize at once. You can tell Pabst is perfectly at home in front of the mic and it is this overwhelming sense of being comfortable in his very own skin that brings audiences consolation that they are in the right hands.
Time Tables begins with “Table Crumbs,” where sounds of rain pitter-pattering in the background along with some snow come in. Gradually, a drumming beat enters and a welling of vocals sound out alongside the acoustic guitar. The combined vocal harmonies felt very flavorful. There was a great folk and singer/songwriter energy to the acoustic vibes. I enjoyed the greatly lush music. The sound of conversations in the backdrop offered a nice ambiance. “Picking Back Up” transitions right from the previous track. As a drumming beat sounds out, Pabst's vulnerable vocals come in to give a very soothing sense to the song. I enjoyed the attention to melody on this track. There was an uptick to pacing on this song, which I appreciated. The strings also added a nice flavor. Background sounds of wind settles into the groove of “Don’t” as an acoustic guitar makes its way towards the start of this piece. The sound that eases in is soft and soothing. Once Pabst’s vocals arrive, you can definitely feel the emotions from his voice coming through. There was a touch of melancholy to this singing and music. Starting off with the distinctive sounds of xylophones, “Come Back” offered some unique instrumentation. The vocals are backed with distortion and this gives off an off-kilter feel. Next, this all clears up for some crystalline vocals coming from Pabst being supported by guitar. Eventually, the electric guitars are interwoven in to give a more full-on vibe. I loved the dynamic delivery here. Once the acoustic guitar sounds settle in, you can hear a storm brewing in the background on “Now I.” This provided a very thought-provoking soundscape. The current of sounds had a nice ebb and flow to it. At this point, Pabst’s vocals really reminded me of Bon Iver. The beats and chord progressions on the acoustic guitar offer up a lush and inviting sound on “Forgiving Myself.” On “Rung Cutters,” eerie guitars and ghostly vocals provide a very haunting sound. There is a bit of unquiet to the music, giving an edgy feel to the sound. Then the sound just builds into a fuller band undertaking. More of Pabst’s vocal harmonies are unleashed keeping the music afloat with his singing. The music here had a harder rock edge, as Pabst changed up his acoustic sound for something more aggressive. On “Time Of Day,” a drumming beat, acoustic guitar and harmonica make for a country-twang vibe. With also a dash of folk, this keeps up the warm tones on this up-close-and personal track. “With Eyes Shut” is filled with vocal harmonies. Pabst keeps the rich sounds coming with this intimate and dreamy closer. There was a great indie rock, singer/songwriter and acoustic vibe to the album. The sound at times reminded me a lot of Bon Iver. Pabst pays a lot of attention to his layers of sounds and overlapping vocal harmonies. Although Pabst does pay ode to a lot of artists like Bon Iver, James Blake and Iron and Wine, at moments he does go off the beaten track and makes memorable instances of his own. These moments are truly when we see him coming to his own as an artist and this is where he thoroughly shines. Time Tables is an album filled with great craft to songwriting and musicianship. It looks like Pabst is only getting started and I eagerly look forward to seeing where he takes his sound to next. Highly recommended.
1 Comment
Cameron Esmon
9/3/2021 03:47:00 pm
Wow thank you so much @divideandconquer for showing me this album. It has been truly life changing and I have found a new favorite artist thanks to your reviews. Excited to see what’s next to come🤘
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Critique/insightWe are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.
Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook
Archives
May 2024
|