Awesome prog metal soundscapes from this American duo
El Kapitan is a cliff in Yosemite National Park. It is also the collective name for progressive American musicians Kirk Bartholomew and Marc Soucy. Neither is particularly easy to get to grips with, but you're going to enjoy the challenge.
'Haywire' is the first of three albums the band has released, and each one brings out a new side to the music. Heavily drawing on Seventies progressive rock legends for inspiration, such as Pink Floyd and Yes, El Kapitan create soundscapes that cross boundaries in a way few have dared to for decades. 'Rainforest Serenade' is a clanking, industrially charged electronic blow for eco-warriors everywhere, taking an angry side-swipe at commercial culture in both lyrics and percussion. 'The Wild Ride' does exactly what it says on the tin: it's a mish-mash of almost every sound you can think of, like an eighties metal tune strung out by Focus or ELP. 'El Capitan' and 'Snowrider' are more dance-metal mayhem, sounding like they belong on a computer game, while 'Trail of Tears' is atmospheric drawn-out prog-blues.
My favourite track was the haunting 'Mysteria', a bluesy distorted instrumental that sounded like someone had asked David Gilmour to play 'Echoes' and 'The Division Bell' simultaneously. It's a shock to the system every time Bartholomew's sarcastic (and slightly creepy) vocals kick back in, spouting accusatory lyrics with spiky double meanings, especially in 'Hey Y.R.U' and 'Jeckyll To Hyde'. And then it's all change from heavy rock to jazz-tinged honky-tonk piano for the quirkily danceable 'Kittinkabootal', almost as far away from dreamy prog noodling as you can get.
Before you go thinking that this is all retro-rock, think again. The atmospherics may be timeless and the synthesisers lend more than a passing nod to Rick Wakeman or the Moody Blues, but the production and sentiment are bang up to date. This is no mere noodle up their own backsides; this is packed to the rafters with detail and meaning in every word and note.
Trying to describe a direction for El Kapitan would be like trying to draw a map when you don't know where you started or where you're going. It's all about the journey and who inspired you to take it. Just don't imagine you're going to understand it. Soucy and Bartholomew have created some gorgeous anti-pop soundscapes that inspire and provoke, and it will be a pleasure to hear more of them.