Waiting In The Fifth Dimension - Waiting In The Fifth Dimension

​Waiting In The Fifth Dimension

Waiting In The Fifth Dimension
self-released; 2024

3.8 out of 5

​By ​Dino DiMuro​

I guess it’s been long enough that there can be two bands with “Fifth Dimension” in their names. Waiting In The Fifth Dimension is the solo project of Salt Lake City experimental musician Zac Wilkinson. His debut album is the self-titled Waiting In The Fifth Dimension. Though just 21 minutes long, this is a conceptual story like Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal” in which a broken love affair is described backwards, starting at the end and ending at the beginning.

Wilkinson describes this narrative as being “deeply rooted in a past relationship that left the artist shattered, highlighting themes of love, loss and introspection.” Wilkinson sings and plays all parts, as well as mixing and mastering. He counts as influences Matt Martians and Tyler the Creator. His album cover (and apparent band icon) is a disturbingly altered picture of an eager or crazed young man.

“meeting you was a mistake” is the opening track and a great title, and appears to be something of an indie hit with 11,000 plays on Spotify. It really does feel like the final track on an album, and not the first! A lonely drum machine lopes along, joined by an electric guitar strumming single, opaque chords. Wilkinson’s vocals are double-tracked and just above a whisper, even when singing soprano. A minimalist, striking start! “why” again features bare-bones drum machine, this time backing up low-pitched synth tones. My note on this song was “sounds like Brian Wilson singing on the floor” and it really could be a lost linking track from an alternate-universe “SMiLE.”

“i see you in my dreams” reuses the drum beats from the first track, with a two-chord motif on the synth. Wilkinson seems to prefer using his higher voice, which in another context could be taking the lead on soul music records. Not much development here, but there is an interesting minimal guitar solo. “i don’t know why” is a bit of a departure as Wilkinson steps a little back from the mic and sings in a more naturalistic voice. We (or at least I) can certainly relate to the line “I don’t know why you won’t be mine.” The next track “are you scared” kicks in without a pause (I love that!) and if a previous track reminded me of Brian Wilson, this one could be his brother Dennis.

“her (interlude)” is a kind of spooky, short linking track that feels a bit like John Lennon’s guitar picking along with narrative voices that can’t be understood; but it makes for a great opener to “do you want to fall in love” which pointedly comes after (or before) the narrator “spends the night” with his new love. The drums have a paramilitary feel, with a return to those warbling electric guitar chords. 

“spend the night” has over two thousand plays (making Wilkinson eligible for a few pennies at the end of the year) and interestingly it’s one of the more sophisticated tracks, with two distinct sections, jazz electric piano tones and very human-sounding vocals. The concluding (beginning) track “when will we be friends” has the cleanest guitar recording yet, with jazzy 7ths that play backup to haunted percussion and young-and-hopeful-sounding vocals. The abrupt ending feels perfect.

I am always up for musical experimentation, and Wilkinson took an interesting idea and made something compelling with it. I won’t say he’s exactly where he should be, but this short collection shows he’s well on his way!

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