Review by Arktimes.com

Off the Beaten Path - Mark Hooper

My internet journeys across the landscape of MySpace have introduced me to some very interesting artist from all across the globe. But, this week's featured artists -- with their hip, innovative and creative sounds, have brought this cyber bus right back to home base - Little Rock. I didn't have to surf through legions of pages to discover either of these artists. No, I actually enjoyed the luxury of having their product brought to my door when I was invited to join their pages -- thanks fellas! What I soon discovered is that Another Theory and The Reverburritos offer some uniquely tasty sound nuggets - "drive through, next window...and have a nice day!"

Another Theory

When one thinks of trend setters in the world of electronica, very rarely does Little Rock enter into the picture. So, when I received the invitation to Another Theory's page, I never expected what I was about to experience. As I 'logged on,' the track "dark and cold" began to play -- to summarize, WOW! This initial track made me think of the ethereal, transcendent moods of Dead Can Dance, Enigma or Portishead. The piece presented long sustained tones shrouded by, but penetrating through the same sense of infinite silence. A vague similarity to the vocal style of Dave Gahan and Depeche Mode -- and somewhat of some Moby songs, too. Song compositions, counter melodies and base lines like something composed by Trent Reznor and performed by Nine Inch Nails...or even something from Evanescence. The beats of the four tracks provided on A.T.'s MySpace page vary from trance beats to a sound that is almost an "Ode to Manchester" - The Hot House Flowers, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, etc...(one rhythm reminded me of a tune by DJ Rap), to the Bristol sound of trip hop (and Portishead). Nonetheless, the comparisons are vast. I could even find "off-beat" comparisons to early house artists such as Aphex Twin, Cabaret Voltaire and Kraftwerk, if it were necessary.

This trance/trip hop sound is being produced by one person - Johnnie Brannon. Ironically, Johnnie lists his influences as Bjork, Portishead, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Tori Amos, The Cocteau Twins, Poe, and Massive Attack. Listen to the tracks on Another Theory's page and you will hear D - all of the above.Precisely.

The sound created by Brannon is not a sell out to any of the artists who have influenced his sound. He has created a sound that can be identified as his own -a seeping, moody and ambient landscape. The trance to trip hop beats providing a mesmerizing pulse to his tunes - masterfully. When Brannon finally layers vocals on top of this wave of sound, the drone is unaffected and almost emotionless, carrying the mood of the music forward, but you are still compelled to listen.

Brannon has not just grabbed a keyboard and tripped out over the repetition of a few created melody lines. This artist has demonstrated a healthy understanding of the relationships of sounds and their communion to create an overall aural image. I look forward to hearing more great things from Johnnie and Another Theory.

Lucky me! Another Theory will be performing at White Water Tavern on September 5th. Come and check out one of Little Rock's refreshingly different artists -- one that won't be strumming Freebird on a 12 string Ovation guitar! I'll see all you music lovers there!!!

Mark Hooper (give me a shout @ nylhooper@yahoo.com)

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