Brookhaven - Transitive Verses
by Adrian Huggins
published: 4 / 3 / 2006

Label:
Select Label
Format: CD
intro
Largely instrumental electronica-influenced rock from Oakland, California collective Brookhaven
Brookhaven come from the same school of thought as Broken Social Scene. Based in and around Oakland, California, many of the musicians who play in it also play in other local bands. They play a mixture of extremely atmospheric music that blends together the regular rock music created by guitar, bass and drums, along with more electronica stylings. 'Transitive Verses' is a very peaceful album, but does this without being by any means quiet. It doesn’t really sound like one other thing, more several brought together. Some of the songs on it such as 'Tell You in Verse' and 'Black Phase' veer towards an indie guitar sound. The latter recalls the music of the Stone Roses at times. The vast majority of the album is instrumental. That can be sometimes be disconcerting when you first listen to an album. You find yourself wanting to have some sort of personal connection to the music, and this, of course, usually comes in the form of a singer and their voice. Without this luxury things, however, are very different. A lack of vocals can be compelling though. It’s like looking at a picture book where you have to work out what’s going on, rather than being told. On 'Transitive Verses' this, however,make for some pretty challenging listening at times, but on other tracks such as 'You Might Have Known' it can be totally captivating, speeding up and down and taking its listener with it. 'Static in the Valley', one of the more electronic sounding tracks, meanwhile sounds like Brit Dance band Faithless at their most intense. 'Transitive Verses' has some really exciting moments. At times though it really does feel like you are listening to a soundtrack to film, which may or may not have been the plan. You do also miss the vocals that can be so vital in making that connection with the music.
Track Listing:-
1 Transitive Verses2 Black Phase
3 Static in the Valley
4 You Might Have Known
5 New Masters
6 Close Them Out
7 Eve Calm
8 Set
9 Tell You in Verse
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Garfunkel and Garfunkel Jr. - Interview
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Clive Langer - Interview
Sukie Smith - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart