With its driving guitars and sparse vocals, Seattle band The Building Press’ release “Amplitude of Frequencies Over Time,” is an aggressive math rock equation.
The group (Jeff Woodke, A.P. Schroder and Jim Acquavella) has become one of the Northwest’s premier math rock bands. This is their first full-length release.
By successfully computing the formula developed by progressive rock pioneers Slint, Don Caballero and Rodan (complicated time signatures plus uncommon chord progressions multiplied with guitar texture minus vocals), the band has made an adroit and forceful album.
It could be said the album followed the formula a little too closely — at times it comes across like a less epic version of the genre classic “Spiderland.” However, “Amplitude of Frequencies Over Time” still captures the sound of the motion of particles and light filtered out through amplifiers.
The standout track on the album, “Auto Mechanic,” goes from screeching to pulsating to silence and then chaos. It’s music broken down into the sound of systematic inquiry, but it’s also music built up until it has as much surging force as water about to burst a dam.
When vocals are present, they come through as static and fuzz from a lost radio broadcast. The texture they create is more
important than what is actually being said.
“Amplitude of Frequency Over Time” is how rock would sound if guitars could play themselves, or if physics books could sing.
The Building Press will be playing their progressive rock music at the WOW Hall on Jan. 16. Admission is $5 at the door.