When listening to a band like Scott Fisher & 1 a.m. Approach, one has to consider whether the voice of the musician or the overall sound of the music is what matters most. Lead singer Scott Fisher’s sultry, ever-so-slightly raspy voice is like a combination of John Mayer and Jack Johnson, and while that’s not necessarily a unique combination, there’s just something individual about Fisher’s voice.
The Portland native, who was trained in classical piano, truly makes the sound of the band. On the album’s title track, “Step Into the Future,” Fisher’s voice, set over a jazzy rhythm of piano, bass and drums, is seductive and slightly playful, disguising the fact that he’s singing about dissatisfaction with “the hypocrisy of this world we’ve made.”
Trying to categorize the sound of Scott Fisher & 1 a.m. Approach is impossible. While “Step into the Future” sounds jazzy, other tracks have decidedly different sounds. “Atmosphere” sounds almost as if it could fit into the ’90s-pop landscape (not necessarily a bad thing), while “Shades of Blue” alternates between Hawaiian and big-band sounds.
Fisher’s vocals ride the changing waves of music, able to shine through whatever comes his way. This constantly changing soundscape is refreshing and keeps the album moving.
The pace slows down a little on the sixth track, “Forget About the Stars,” and Fisher’s voice, at its most seductive, makes everything but the music melt away. During that song, it’s easy to be swept away into the music and feel as though nothing else matters.
Sadly, however, “Stars” signals a loss of momentum for the album. Of the disc’s 12 songs, the first six are the strongest and liveliest. They stand out from the second half of the album, which melts together into a string of pretty-yet-forgettable songs. The second-to-last song, “Android,” perks up a little but fails to save the end of the album from being ultimately forgettable. None of the tracks after “Stars” are able to reach the level of excitement or emotion heard on the album’s first half.
The first half of the CD is REALLY good, so it’s not a total let-down, but it could have ended better than it does. Nonetheless, “Step Into the Future” is a solid release for a locally grown artist and aspiring producer.
“Step Into the Future” is not yet available, but Fisher and his band will be performing in Portland in mid-May and will be at the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland for the CD’s release. For more information on Scott Fisher & 1 a.m. Approach and their upcoming album, see their MySpace page at myspace.com/scottfisherband.
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