VOLUME ONE

It felt as though I was awaiting an impending departure. I knew a ride was coming, I knew I was going to be taken somewhere, but what was different about this feeling was I had no idea where I was going this time around. I had a vague idea though. I knew it wasn't going to be exactly what I expected; although I had the feeling it was going to be familiar territory. When I arrived, I felt like I was standing at the mouth of a tie-dye painted hallway, an endless corridor with knobs and buttons lining the walls. Buttons corresponding to notes that flow seamlessly together, knobs that twisted and shaped tones to fit in the tightest crevasses. All of this put in place to create a harmonious blend of complex mathematical vintage space rock sound when pressed and pulled in sequence. When I started the debut album titled, Volume One, from the Boston, Mass. based trio, Perhaps, it felt like I ran full speed down that hallway with my arms out letting my fingers glide over every button in perfect sequence. 6 minutes into Volume One, I quickly realized that the whole house was covered from floor to ceiling in those buttons, and I had no choice but to push every button in that house. Volume One is the debut album of the newly assembled Perhaps, consisting of bassist and mastermind behind the project, Jim Haney, guitarist Sean McDermott, and drummer Don Taylor. Together, these three are able to assemble and stack pitch bending harmonies, heavy rock guitar riffs, psychedelic inspired song composition, and what can only be described as a seemingly (and I say "seemingly ," because you can tell an extraordinary amount of thought and effort went into this project) sporadic yet unbroken leap from one melodic structure to the next. Volume One had me eagerly looking forward to and expecting what was coming up, but it grabbed hold of me and kept me present in what was taking place in the moment. The album starts off with an eerie feel, as if a train is racing down intergalactic tracks. The sounds intensify and suspense builds. I'm sitting, waiting for what I'm in store for, listening intently for what is to come. The sound goes from noise to music, notes take form, layer by layer adding upon one another until, with a crash, you have the first composition of Volume One. This composition sets the tone for the album; an album that consists of fundamental math rock influences, but isn't afraid to venture into new grey areas that mix different styles and influences to create something completely unique. Throughout the album, the guitar and bass are so woven together; it's easy to get lost in what's what. Haney and McDermott know how to let each other shine, effortlessly switching between who's taking the lead and who's taking the rhythmic backseat. With heavy crashes and an almost furious pace, drummer Don Taylor sets the landscape for Haney and McDermott, who, as you get into the album, are able to scale what can be described as a musically vertical mountain, found on a planet in a different dimension. The compositions climb higher and higher, until you're taken to the tallest peak hidden within the mind of Perhaps. I found myself standing at the top of the peak, trying to recall how I got there. Only through the mind of madman Jim Haney and fellow members of Perhaps, was I able to go there. I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good. With the lack of a vocalist and missing "single track," style structure you see in most bands, Perhaps has no boundaries. Volume One is an incredible debut album that showcases what this distinctive band is made up of, and can only truly be appreciated by listening start to finish. Take the keys to the house and press the buttons; you'll be glad that you did.