FEEL NO EVIL

'Feel No Evil' is the current EP of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter IAN NARCISI. Supported by a bassist and guitarist he plays drums, keyboards and also cares for the vocals. Hey - this are really nice songs! The first two remind me of Porcupine Tree's Signify/Coma Divine period. Ian's voice appears close to Steven Wilson's I would say - and the mood is similar - psychedelic tinged precisely. The ballad Dust Of You is a really tricky one - mellow, atmospheric with echoing keyboard and charming polyphonic vocals embedded in floating interludes.

What protects you from getting lulled? A slicing guitar is contrasting and overall the song evolves to a heavier mood over the course of time. And at the very end a mysterious triphop styled drum impression is fired off - unusual, not troublesome - a rather special and unique gimmick. The shorter Little Bit follows - more dramatically arranged and again with a special interest in multi-layered vocal performance. Obviously well done - psychedelic guitars and piano are fluttering around each other.

Holding stylistical diversity Just Because is another one which really comes into flower after some rehearsals. Erik Swanson plays double bass, Dave Bowers a playful guitar alternating between a psych, jazzy or heavy riffing output. And then Stargazer shows hallucinogenic vocals and a reaggae/dub dominated groove where the ethno flavour is nicely intensified by a Maui xaphoon in between. The mellow Sparkle and Shine makes out the final song - average, not that tricky as the predecessors, nevertheless provided with nice piano similar keyboard contributions and expressive vocals.

Compared to his full album 'Weight Of The Words' from 2008 IAN NARCISI's current EP appeals better to me. I'm not quite sure yet what makes out the difference. More subtlety? Some more psychedelic moments here and there? Maybe because the songs are going adrift from a singer/songwriter attitude? He surely has cultivated his compositional skills. This foreshadows some surprises for the future - 3.5 stars.