Anyone remember The Prayer Chain, their last album, Mercury, and the tour that ensued? Remember how they really focused and achieved some very ethereal and atmospheric vibrations, dude? That characteristic is strongly represented here. The wildcard variable to this equation is the addition of Mike Knott's wonderfully melodic, unique vocals. His soft, falsetto vocals in each chorus of "Angelica" are pretty amazing. Definitely memorable. The songs sometimes sound like loose, impromptu, but not sloppy jam sessions. "Good Times" is one such jam. You almost hear somebody plugging in and going. Most of the songs are fairly similar, save for "Porpoise," which has some muffled trumpet playing. It's real jazzy, something like you'd hear in a Chicago-based detective movie.
Lyrically, I see spiritual words, like forgiveness, and phrases like "carrying the cross" painted into a lyrical tapestry, with "esoteric" being the key word. "The Touch" has a thoughtfully spacy line, "Christ sighed, Major Tom."
Northern Records has done good to launch their label with this flagship group. It will be interesting to see if the whole entourage of musicians who make up Cush stick around for the ride, cause it sounds like it could be a long and fairly popular one.
Other coverage for this album
Bandoppler 2000Reviewed by Kindred WinecoffEarlier this year, the Christian music world went nuts when early reports of the formation of Cush surfaced. A new band featuring members of The Prayer Chain, Mortal, Fold Zandura, Adam Again, Lost Dogs, Honey, Lassie Foundation, and Starflyer 59 with Michael Knott (L.S.U., Aunt Bettys, Bomb Bay Babies, Lifesavors) singing lead vocals. Cush is a veritable superband of alternative and independent…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Ken MuellerThe debut album from the entity known as Cush is a disc that has taken my CD player hostage since it first came out this summer. What makes this disc so tasty is that the recipe includes the perfect mix of ingredients: take four parts Prayer Chain and Lassie Foundation, two parts Violet Burning, Fold in some Zandura, add a taste of Honey, some essence of Bloomsday and other spices, and then top…Similar sounding releases
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