German buzz band The Intersphere may seem like another in a long line of such groups, but this one really knows how to choose its guitar sounds.German band The Intersphere impressed me with their last album and their energetic pop-rock sound that managed to be both catchy and fun, yet full of depth and meaning. Toss in the fact that they recorded the album almost completely live in about a week, and you get the idea that whatever you may think of their brand of music, these guys have got legitimate talent.
Their latest effort, Relations In The Unseen, eschews the pomp and circumstance of a full-blown concept album, opting instead to convey a thematic message of how unconscious communication (e.g. body language) can influence the thoughts and even actions of others. Music-wise there's still a considerable amount of talent going on here albeit with a little less aggression than what we heard on 2012's Hold On, Liberty! But with that change comes perhaps a greater sophistication in songcrafting. There's still a clear influence of the atmospheric textures of bands like U2, so if you're expecting some crunch, you may be disappointed. But adjusting that expectation to something more like well-constructed alt-rock will likely reward you with a fine follow-up from a mature new band.
Of note, I really enjoy the lush and varied guitar textures employed by this band. Fellow guitarheads should pay special attention to the Dick Dale-inspired verse of Joker, the expertly delayed, dripping-but-clear chorused sound of Tonight and Golden mean, or even the dirty, manic strumming of the title track. Nice work that.
The Bottom Line: This ain't heavy metal by a long shot. Fans of modern alt-rock with a sweet tooth for pop music's jangly guitar-based melodies will be quite satisfied with The Intersphere's ode to the vagaries of 21st century interpersonal communication.
- Genghis is fondly remembering his short-lived garage band from 20 years ago...