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It’s an identikit story heard a million times before in one seriously screwed up music industry, but thankfully, there’s nothing identikit about Schneider’s debut solo album following Rivington’s demise. 'Escape Velocity' is a complex album that restores faith in music and adheres to the reason why Indiemonkey.com was established - major labels aren’t necessary to create exciting new music. Getting dropped doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the road, and not getting signed needn’t be such a Holy Grail. Schneider has realised this, and channelled his talents into creating a truly diverse, spirited and affecting album. It’s often dark, moody and left-of-center, but the pop edge of the tunes means they are never anything less than captivating.  Take opener 'Event Horizon', for example. With an electronica backbeat,
acoustic riff and simple, but excellent melody line, it’s a start that
warrants further investigation of what follows. 'Where Are You Now?'
develops from a sombre opening into a heartfelt tribute with a wonderful
chorus: "Where are you now?/There you are in the stars/So far", and closing
track 'I Remember You' is a similarly wistful tale but with that familiar
Schneider badge of quality.'Echo of Your Heart' picks up the pace in style and 'Heaven In Hand' has a really restrained, edgy vibe about it, while my stand-out track, the beautiful 'Tourniquet' has a laid-back country feel to it and proves Schneider knows just when to mix things up. Less immediate tracks such as 'Later Date' draw you in on repeated listens and like the rest of the album, reveal hidden treasures. 'Escape Velocity' is another strikingly good independent release. To appreciate it to the max, just dim the lights, open your mind and put some headphones on. Rivington’s story may not make pleasant reading, but 'Escape Velocity' is a real happy ending to it. |
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