Alvin Band
Mantis Preying
Intelligent Noise Records
9/10
Put a white version of Bobby McFerrin with Aphex Twin’s eccentricity in your mind, and you’ve got Alvin Band. Phoenix vocalist and drummer of Miniature Tigers, Rick Alvin Shaeir is a one-man band set to impress the home producers and barbershop lovers of the world with his first official release. Shaeier creatively infuses his own densely multi-tracked vocal harmonies with effects processed beat boxing and body part sounds throughout the nine-song release. I guess he took a hint from Daniel Bedingfield and decided to record the album in his bedroom. Fortunately, it’s nowhere near candy pop as “Gotta Get Through This”.
So that begs the question, “Is it good?” Shaeir’s concept to make this a vocals only record impressed me, but the musical ideas may be too odd to swallow at once. I’d say give it a chance. This is an album that you have to experience for yourself. “Mantis Preying” drops on September 22nd in the US and peer to peer networks for your listening pleasure. www.alvinband.com
-Kateri Lirio