Sound Colour Vibration (Music | Art | Film | Technology | Science | Culture)

Two piece 100 Onces are exceptionally gifted on their respective instruments, bringing that raw Tera Melos, Hella, Thursday and Fall of Troy sound to what they do unlike a lot of other bands I have heard. Embarking on a new 8 track full length in 100 Once Is, Barrett Tuttobene really gets a lot of sound and technique through with his guitar style while drummer Richard Ray never lets up in his masterful display behind the kit. I’d compare Richard Ray to Zach Hill but that wouldn’t encompass the level of techniques and different areas of sound Richard Ray falls into. Double bass pedal attacks, never ending rolls, odd time signatures and a level of tonality that makes the recording so surprisingly clean.

Most would label this band as math rock but I feel that tag is all too limiting and doesn’t encompass the differentiating states of sound that come through on 100 Once Is. Finger taps and highly prolific runs of guitar fall into hard metal and even pop related areas all in the span of a few minutes. It’s the type of merging of sound that can only exists in the 21st century as the walls and interests of fans are becoming so diversified and removed that fusion is a must for any type of work to become something that hasn’t been beat in with a stick.

What makes 100 Once Is so damn intoxicating is all of the moments when guitar solo’s spring up, when rhythmic foundations flip up at the drop of a dime and the overall beautiful insanity that occurs between the two. Recorded live in the studio, the two are so well connected that it becomes hard to believe this was recorded live. Every drum roll sounds superb and fat and doesn’t leave any room wondering where the other guys are at to fill in the sound. Melodically, Barrett Tuttobene covers territory not a lot of bands are pulling from and his virtuoso skill set on his axe runs circles around guitar players we won’t mention here.

The band even pays homage to Tera Melos with the track 800 Tetra Melos and they flip shit sideways and every other direction in this track. Guitar this wild yet sophisticated has breaded the evolution of guitar work and this album is one of the best approaches to all of these techniques under one roof. It’s like the Bruce Lee of instrumentation when you hear Richard and Barrett accompany one another in such an advanced format. My favorite piece comes in the last song “900 Fuck It”. With a dusty and sleep melodic approach that has deep pulsating drums, lush synth and a very worthy spoken word sample, this track falls into a contemplative mood of electronica and makes for one incredible closer to 100 Once Is.

If you love progressive, rule changing music and especially love to have your world turned upside down for a small portion of your day, jump right into 100 Once Is. It’s one beast of a ride and full of the type of diversity under one roof we absolutely love in modern art.

Erik Otis

Order a copy here http://100onces.bandcamp.com/releases

Don’t miss 100 Onces live!

7/27 – Los Angeles, CA – Ghetto Grounds
7/29 – Portland, OR – House Show – 4925 SE Lafayette St, Portland, OR 97206
7/30 – Portland, OR – Plan B – 1305 SE 8th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
7/31 – Olympia, WA – Party/Bonfire
8/1 – Olympia, WA – Le Voyeur
8/2 – Corvallis, OR – Bombs Away Cafe
8/3 – San Jose, CA – House Show – 5590 Thureson Way, San Jose, CA 95124
8/4 – Isla Vista, CA – Party
8/5 – Los Angeles, CA – The Terrace

Recorded Thanksgiving weekend 2011

Released 25 December 2011
Barrett Tuttobene – Guitars
Richard Ray – Drums

Drums & rhythm guitar recorded live.
Sound engineered by Pete Beukelman
Produced on Mothers Turf

Track #4 – The D. Elkan by Hella (Snorlax Remix)
(www.facebook.com/snorlaxbass)
Track #9 – Knew by Jake Mendoza
Original can downloaded here (motherturf.bandcamp.com/track/knew)
Speech by Jiddu Krishnamurti in Ojai 1930