Review: 2 a.m. Orchestra "Impermanence"

According to their MySpace page, 2 a.m. Orchestra "sounds like Gaia working Saturn's hula-hoop". Translated into English, this means eclectic pop music.

2 a.m. Orchestra is conducted by singer-songwriter David Kelley. "Impermanence" delivers more of the heady atmospheric pop people have grown to expect from this outfit. Many people have likened 2 a.m. Orchestra to Radiohead, and I couldn't agree more with this association. To clarify, they are more like the modern Radiohead than the early-mid 90s Radiohead that stormed onto the alternative rock scene with landmark CDs like "Pablo Honey" and "The Bends". I also catch some elements of Coldplay, The Ocean Blue, and Depeche Mode. If you like records rich in acoustic guitar, moody vocals, and well placed orchestration, you need to check out this band.

The opening track, "The Builder" sets a somber mood and is fairly representative of the remaining songs to come. Up next is an acoustic-based ditty entitled, "Not The One" that features some cool harmonies. The tracks I enjoyed the most include "Delilah" and "Untouched Earth". The CD ends strongly with a trio of enjoyable tracks. "The Old Church" showcases the vocalist's range and the band's instincts to play music that match the theme of the song. "Wash Away" is one of the more pleasant and bright moments on the record, albeit a very short one. Finally, "The Cycle" is a rather catchy discourse on the circles of life.

The strengths of this record include a capable vocalist, some creative melodies and harmonies, and their different take on the traditional pop sound. The band makes great effort to mix things up and keep the record interesting, and the sonic quality is impressive. But I feel many of our powerpop and AOR fans will have difficulty getting into this group. The songs are generally slow and the hooks are subtle. In some cases, they only emerge after repeated listening.

If you enjoy the experimental stuff Thom Yorke and Radiohead has been doing the past 4 or 5 releases, than you should appreciate 2 a.m. Orchestra. Also for fans of bands we've covered such as Only Makebelieve or Andrew Keese & The Associates. This CD takes time to grow on you, but there are rewards for those who invest the time.

iPOD-worthy: 4, 6, 8, 9, 10

2 a.m. Orchestra on MySpace. Official site.