GRAPPLING

The Tea Club are one of the best unsigned bands on the planet. Over the years they've blended long-form symphonic rock, complex arrangements, and some beautiful melodies/chord structures.

This time they've taken a step forward in their sound... while they are still obviously influenced by the early 70's (especially in the mix and compression levels), they are reaching deep into a place that could only exist in this modern world of paranoia, surveillance, and humanity's ever-impending self-destruction.

Even at 'Grappling's most triumphant moments I'm overcome with a sense of sadness, as though the only way to celebrate our lives on this planet is through understanding its darkest depths. Am I traversing a beautiful forest with an underlying feeling of being watched by something or someone that intends to impede or even kill me? Am I on the subway, underneath a concrete jungle, surrounded by people but touched by a sort of loneliness one can only feel in the company of narcissistic beasts? Or is this all a dream? Have we already lived our lives?

This is apparent especially on Dr. Abraham, which may be The Tea Club's best song in their discography. It's one of the most immediately weird and off-putting tracks they've done, though it retains a catchiness that sticks with you for days. After a couple dozen listens to this track I still get goosebumps. It's great to hear a non-metal and even non-hard rock band give off a frightening vibe while somehow still retaining hope. (If hope is capable of being itself.) While there are a couple similarities to them on the 2nd and 6th track, this album connects with me more than anything Genesis ever did.

There's also something to be said about the keyboard playing on this album. Upon first listen you might think they have 2 keyboardists. There is a certain level of detail in the arrangements that few modern prog bands have accomplished, especially considering they went the natural sounding route of playing to a drummer (who kills it on this album) instead of a click.

I can't forget the vocals either, which are the most developed and focused of any album by The Tea Club. Each individual aspect of the sound is pretty much perfect to me. No refrain sounds repetitious, no section egregious. Even with a couple small parts that sound obviously 'prog' I never felt as though I was ankle deep in cheese.

This is absolutely not a mechanical wankfest of notes. This is beautiful, forward-thinking, strange music that will deeply resonate with you if you have heart and a desire to more deeply understand the human condition. 'Grappling' is a testament to musical dedication and creativity. You owe it to yourself to at least give this album a listen.