ALBUM REVIEW: Escapades – The Omnific
THE OMNIFIC are an inspired entry to the instrumental world, harnessing the might of two bassists and one drummer to conduct sprawling soundscapes that undergo exciting shades of metamorphosis in their unique blend of aural psychedelia. Simply put, THE OMNIFIC slaps. Now, with the most predictable of bass puns out the way, let’s dive in. The curious trio has unleashed three EPs since 2016 and, alongside a constant flow of well-received YouTube content, have garnered themselves a respectable following of slapheads (not sure the term will catch on) in anticipation of the release of debut LP, Escapades. Yet, in spite of the justified but frankly understated buzz surrounding THE OMNIFIC’s first major release, concerns of gimmickry and the curse of the one-trick pony lie ahead; it’s all about first impressions.
As far as first impressions go, Escapades is a well met and satisfactory handshake; immediate grip, great finger technique and doesn’t outstay its welcome. It’s not a faultless affair, with the odd nitpick around songwriting and pacing to keep them from joining the ranks of their shoulder-worn influences, but THE OMNIFIC have undoubtedly written themselves out of being one dimensional with a debut that is quite a spectacle.
It is said that the band is one of few that come close to being ‘truly’ unique and this statement certainly has grounds. For newcomers to this low-end world of slaps and grooves, THE OMNIFIC make no effort in hiding their identity as the twangs and bounces of an unapologetic two-pronged bass assault guide us through the 11 tracks. There’s no pedal wizardry or post-production magic to turn bass to electric – what you see is what you hear, and the trio’s diligence to this vision is what maintains their rightful place in this congested sphere of forward-thinkers.
Escapade’s set of tools are sharp and effective in carving the band’s niche. Its sound is a fidgeting array of grooves and warbling bass harmonies from the offset of Antecedent’s opening moments (a track that attracted a feature from POLYPHIA’s Clay Gober) and, as the album trickles further down the rabbit hole, embellishments of synthesisers and piano keys make for a palette that is as kaleidoscopic as it is ornate; a vivid attack of colour from the careful hands of a decorated craftsman. It gives the record a much needed, more dynamic flavour. This isn’t merely two guys with a penchant for string slaps, these are vice-tight performances from bassists Matthew Fackrell and Toby Peterson-Stewart, with a rigid backbone from Jerome Lematua on drums, and it’s the flourishes of such cinematic synth work – see The Labyrinth Chronicles – that meets delicate, classically influenced piano that rounds off Escapade’s bookends in such fantastic harmony to give this record a fine balance.
But such intricate musicianship does not come at the cost of a lacking personality. Be it the trio’s hilarious album teasers – a thirty-second clip of each song played at once in an ungodly manner – or track names like Scurryfunge, which is as fittingly skittish as you would imagine, small gems of character give this instrumental collective a strong voice.
With that said, Escapades doesn’t quite shoot out the starting gate unscathed. Tracks like Antecedent and Matai can become stuck in their own groove too long for their own good – you’re sat waiting for a riff or tempo switch that simply never comes. It may not decry the band’s entire sense for songwriting but it can break the immersive trance that they’ve worked so hard to create. The track Dwam, too, feels desperate to build to some great release of tension from its tranquil beginnings but runs off into its own drowsy motions, its overall purpose remaining unclear.
No such question mark lies above Escapades‘ final impressions. The undeniable truth is that THE OMNIFIC have made an otherworldly, slaptastic first full-length foray into the world of instrumental madness. Teething issues aside there is only room to celebrate, with engaging ideas meeting a strong personality. The only logical place from here is upward; there’s no doubt that they’ll make it.
Rating: 8/10
Escapades is set for release on October 8th via Wild Thing Records.
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