Select
Captain
Captain
Pure
Neon EP
Neon EP
Morning
3:04 Here We Stand 3:18 Adamantine 3:11 Slow 3:35 Pure Neon 6:39
3:04 Here We Stand 3:18 Adamantine 3:11 Slow 3:35 Pure Neon 6:39
It’s
been a long tiresome month. At first it was the Tuesday festivals
with people juggling fire, hula-hooping with these glow-in-the dark
ones, bands and DJ’s, hippies, Rastafarians, hipsters, new age
people, and vendors selling their wares(I was along with the
vendors). Then, it was the family coming back from overseas. Next,
was(and still is) the ongoing medical crap from my surgery three
years ago, my daughter starting school, my wife with her college, and
now the help with both of their homework and problems. But, I’m
pretty sure this EP will set me back in the right direction with my
own writing. So, I’m starting the music and away I go.
been a long tiresome month. At first it was the Tuesday festivals
with people juggling fire, hula-hooping with these glow-in-the dark
ones, bands and DJ’s, hippies, Rastafarians, hipsters, new age
people, and vendors selling their wares(I was along with the
vendors). Then, it was the family coming back from overseas. Next,
was(and still is) the ongoing medical crap from my surgery three
years ago, my daughter starting school, my wife with her college, and
now the help with both of their homework and problems. But, I’m
pretty sure this EP will set me back in the right direction with my
own writing. So, I’m starting the music and away I go.
Morning,
doesn’t
disappoint. A galloping acoustic guitar seems to be travelling down
ghost tracks through patchwork fog. The Captain climbs aboard waving
his headlamp, piercing the moonless night while the smokestack
belches, the rails squeals, the crossties of the bridge harmonize,
and the swamp boils, bubbling on toward the sun break.
doesn’t
disappoint. A galloping acoustic guitar seems to be travelling down
ghost tracks through patchwork fog. The Captain climbs aboard waving
his headlamp, piercing the moonless night while the smokestack
belches, the rails squeals, the crossties of the bridge harmonize,
and the swamp boils, bubbling on toward the sun break.
Select
Captain is the creation, or evolution of the 1950’ies beat poets
following the traditions of what is now commonly referred to as
Americana. It’s that niche that few dare attempt to step into
because so many of the classic greats are categorized as such: Bob
Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, etc., all fit
and truly developed this niche. Kristian Gaarskjær is the Select
Captain. He is the singer, songwriter, and guitarist who is now
taking on the further development of this new art form, and from what
I am hearing now, he seems to be branching off to create a category
of his own. The band is made up of Søren Vestergaard, Kasper
Olsen, Johannes Gissel, Jonas Wegner. They are based out of
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Captain is the creation, or evolution of the 1950’ies beat poets
following the traditions of what is now commonly referred to as
Americana. It’s that niche that few dare attempt to step into
because so many of the classic greats are categorized as such: Bob
Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, etc., all fit
and truly developed this niche. Kristian Gaarskjær is the Select
Captain. He is the singer, songwriter, and guitarist who is now
taking on the further development of this new art form, and from what
I am hearing now, he seems to be branching off to create a category
of his own. The band is made up of Søren Vestergaard, Kasper
Olsen, Johannes Gissel, Jonas Wegner. They are based out of
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Here
We Stand( and Nothing Ever Changes),
the second track on this EP is driven by its lyrics and acoustic as
well. This one is a bit slower and somewhat has a much more ominous
sound with a vengeful message. Lyrically its darkness can be summed
up by the refrain,
We Stand( and Nothing Ever Changes),
the second track on this EP is driven by its lyrics and acoustic as
well. This one is a bit slower and somewhat has a much more ominous
sound with a vengeful message. Lyrically its darkness can be summed
up by the refrain,
“ Once again we’re in trouble where we stand. You have messed it
up again…”
Adamantine,
picks up the pace as it takes the listener into the “wild west”.
It sounds like the Captain has plugged in. This song has that western
feel to it, the deep “Marlboro Man” cowboy kind. Halfway through
the song it breaks into a slower rhythm in order to pierce through
and take away the innocence if he has to. So far, this is a different
type of song, a “Man in Black,” style song. I had to look up the
definition of the title itself and it says, “1. utterly unyielding
or firm in attitude or opinion. 2. too hard to cut, break, or pierce.
3. like a diamond in luster.” Just listening to this song over and
over I love that break and how it picks back up.
picks up the pace as it takes the listener into the “wild west”.
It sounds like the Captain has plugged in. This song has that western
feel to it, the deep “Marlboro Man” cowboy kind. Halfway through
the song it breaks into a slower rhythm in order to pierce through
and take away the innocence if he has to. So far, this is a different
type of song, a “Man in Black,” style song. I had to look up the
definition of the title itself and it says, “1. utterly unyielding
or firm in attitude or opinion. 2. too hard to cut, break, or pierce.
3. like a diamond in luster.” Just listening to this song over and
over I love that break and how it picks back up.
Slow,
is
just as it is titled. I’ve listened to it numerous times and know
it’s almost written as if a letter to someone. I haven’t quite
figured out if it is a song to break up for good with someone that
has been an on-again-off-again relationship, or if it is just one to
say, “Let’s move beyond this constant game playing.” In either
case, the song is an absolute beautiful addition to this EP, and a
powerful one at that.
is
just as it is titled. I’ve listened to it numerous times and know
it’s almost written as if a letter to someone. I haven’t quite
figured out if it is a song to break up for good with someone that
has been an on-again-off-again relationship, or if it is just one to
say, “Let’s move beyond this constant game playing.” In either
case, the song is an absolute beautiful addition to this EP, and a
powerful one at that.
The
title track, Pure
Neon, really
throws the Select Captain into an entirely differently realm. Sure
you have the guitar and the drums but there is electronic mix. I
could just picture seeing this in a club environment with laser
projections, the fitting light spectacle and the right sound
system/echo chamber style environment to take it all in and absorb
it.
title track, Pure
Neon, really
throws the Select Captain into an entirely differently realm. Sure
you have the guitar and the drums but there is electronic mix. I
could just picture seeing this in a club environment with laser
projections, the fitting light spectacle and the right sound
system/echo chamber style environment to take it all in and absorb
it.
I
really have to say this was really something I was not expecting. It
was incredibly written, both lyrically and vocally it was dead on,
and it was brilliantly produced.
really have to say this was really something I was not expecting. It
was incredibly written, both lyrically and vocally it was dead on,
and it was brilliantly produced.
Jeremy Frost for Country Music News International