Sound Advice: The first album by the Philly sextet Impressionist
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
When alto and baritone saxophonist Kyle Press started Impressionist, he dreamt of an outfit equally comfortable playing weird rock, oddball hip-hop and jazzy, experimental instrumental music. Different albums would reflect its diverse moods and skill sets. For Impressionist’s first, Everything, the Philly sextet is in “psychedelic rock orchestra” mode. The lyrics concern “earthly issues like relationships, romance and drinking,” says Press, “which can also be read as being about God, whatever that means. I haven’t really figured it out yet.” Another of Press’ goals for Impressionist was to incorporate throat singing — a brand of rumbling harmonic vocal tones associated with Mongolia, Tibet and Siberia — into Western musical genres. “I know that the rest of the guys are very committed to pushing their instruments as far as extended techniques go, so when I learned how to throat sing, I just had to start a band around it,” he says.
With that, the throat-singing saxophonist says Everything’s defining moment is “You Are Not Alone,” a melancholy track that makes use of an insistent groove, a lilting melody and icy improvisation. “There’s also still a healthy heaping of chaos,” says Press.
Speaking of chaos, the other headliner on tonight’s show at the Boot is noise ensemble Cowardice, Impressionist’s best buds. The bands frequently share a bill and play on the other’s records. Press also started a label with Cowardice’s members, Walrus Mode Records, and both bands’ new releases are that imprint’s first recordings. “I’m just a big nerd, and we’re a band of music nerds, making music that music nerds will love,” says Press.
Thu., May 29, 7:30 p.m., $7, with Left of Logic and Candice Martello, Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 877-435-9849, bootandsaddlephilly.com.
