New Singles from toMMaSPork Deliver An Immersive And Slightly Dirty Rock Sound
A new set of tracks from toMMaSPork pulls together elements of Blues Rock, fuzz-toned guitar sounds, and classic rock inspiration, portrayed by deep-rooted and sort of ambient-feeling organs laid out in the background, along with an amazing balance of drive and presence.
A lot of the reasons why these songs come through the way they do are because of how the band builds out their tones. The tones of their instruments are imperative in giving the songs the aesthetic that they have.
The first of the two, "Down & Dumb", has this sort of vast feel to those guitars.
First of all, you have a bit of slide guitar going on throughout certain sections of the song, sort of peppered or laced in there at certain points, including the very beginning, and that slide guitar is drenched in reverb, making it feel super distant.
This already adds a certain kind of depth and ambience to the song, and I feel like that's part of the vibe.
There are other guitar sections that sort of swell, and this gives it a little bit of a cinematic effect, along with, as I mentioned a little earlier, organs that don't just fill the space, but rather give the song a little more meat.
The organs push the progression forward really amazingly, but they also add a certain kind of texture to the song that helps give it the layers that it was meant to have.
There are also guitars that are slightly distorted on the upfront, performing riffs and chords here and there, and I think that also builds on the rhythm part of everything, while the drumming really gives everything a very lively feel.
The drummer doesn't just hang around in the pocket. He does provide a great groove, but he also has all kinds of ghost notes and fills that add a little extra meat to the bones of the song.
Once it reaches certain parts of the choruses and post-choruses, the guitars have a wah kind of effect on them, giving them a little bit of a swampy feel. I also think that's part of the air of the track itself. It's supposed to have this sort of feel of mystery or a filmic backbone, which it completely does, and the effects and the way the instruments are performed really help push that amazingly.
There's a sense of rebellion about this track. The lyrics hang around the idea that you're not dumb enough to be taken over. You won't be swayed so easily, and you have a mind of your own. You can think for yourself and act for yourself.
It's about not being trapped in a certain mindset pushed onto you by others.
At least, that's how I interpreted it. Others may listen to it and have it come across a little differently to them, but I took it as a bit of pushback in terms of not letting yourself be boxed in, so to speak.
I like this sentiment as well, simply because it speaks to me. It speaks to a lot of people, especially in our times.
The song has some great rises and intensity, but it also has that, as I mentioned earlier, bit of distance. It's flowing, and that fluency pulls you into its atmosphere.
Again, it feels super classic rock, but it's got a southern tonality coming from the organs and guitars a lot of the time.
The single is followed by another that just dropped today called "mr BIG", and this one really digs into those slide guitars a lot more. As a matter of fact, the slide guitars are used as a main rhythm instrument, and it makes the song have a very unique feel.
You still have those swamp rock elements coming through with wah effects on the guitars during certain sections again, but this is part of their staple sound.
The vocals on this one are female-driven and super powerful. She's really able to hold out notes and belt when she wants to. She also sounds amazing double-tracked because it gives the song a certain thickness and power.
There are certain verses of the track that also come through very theatrically. She has an animated sensation when she's performing those verses, to the point where they're almost spoken word, doubled, and almost whispered.
This also adds to the air of mystery, and I like the theatrical, cinematic approach these guys bring to the table, mainly because it's not overdone.
Everything between the grooves, funk, indie, and classic rock influences shines through, along with the expansive feel, the atmospheres, the vastness in the soundscape, and the storytelling elements, which come together amazingly to build something you get attached to.
I feel like this is a really important thing with this band. They deliver songs that have character. They came from someplace, and because they did, you are picking up on the persona behind them.
This song is a perfect example of exactly that.
These are both out right now, and you should definitely dig into them along with their previously dropped "disGrace", which falls right in line with the other two and seems to be on that same set of releases.
It feels and looks like they're all part of one record, which works because they sound that way too.
So, definitely check these out because they're a little bit immersive and really give you a lot to chew on in terms of tone, texture, and rock influence.
Remember where you heard it first.
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