CHECKING IN: Mammal of Paradise spawns from Aderbat, plays its Philly debut tonight

In the early winter of 2009, Aderbat was a band in crisis. On the heels of a stunning set of minimal, autumnal songs - the previous year's We Belong to the Sea - the Bucks County foursome was pushing headlong into its next project while it geographically drifted apart.

options

CHECKING IN: Mammal of Paradise spawns from Aderbat, plays its Philly debut tonight

POSTED: Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 3:00 PM

Filed Under: Music

(mammalofparadise.com)

In the early winter of 2009, Aderbat was a band in crisis. On the heels of a stunning set of minimal, autumnal songs – the previous year’s We Belong to the Sea – the Bucks County foursome was pushing headlong into its next project while it geographically drifted apart. As we reported at the time, singer-guitarist Matt Taylor moved to Brooklyn, keyboardist Craig Hendrix moved to Kensington and drummer Todd Schied and bassist Brad Kunkle stayed in Wasssergrass. They met up for weekly rehearsals and recording sessions, built their new album up track by track – but a hard drive crash later, everything was lost.

Two years down the road, the same four guys are making music together, but under a different moniker – Mammal of Paradise. Taylor reasons that so much changed between the meltdown and the move, both personally and sonically, that it was in effect a different band.

Indeed, differences are easy to find on the self-titled debut from Mammal in Paradise (released to Bandcamp in December). Aderbat’s signature was downtempo minimalism; it never would have done anything as fierce as “Two Headed Swan,” a rough-hewn guitar number reminiscent of Sunny Day Real Estate. Aderbat also never would have done anything as base as “Hey Mister,” a clumsy pop paean to the dying beast that is radio (“Hey mister DJ please, I’m freaking out.”). Thankfully, that’s the only misfire in a ten-song album, and most of the set a rich and progressive step forward from the four-piece’s previously stark starting points. “Freeway Robber” has a punchy pulse and strong vocal performance from Taylor stretched across haunting feedback strains. “I Wanna Go Back” pokes and prods in unconventional tempos; it’s challenging and ultimately rewarding. Other numbers echo Aderbat’s aesthetic , indicating that these guys will never fall tremendously far from the tree: “Saw the Thing in Half” references the stoic deconstruction of aughts Radiohead, and brilliant closer “Anyone’s Song” is as warm and comforting a comedown as the closing title track of Sea.

Conclusion: Mammal of Paradise shows tremendous growth from Aderbat. And if the band deems that the growth necessitated a new identity, we’ll roll with it, and keep our eyes peeled for its next release. Meanwhile, Mammal of Paradise plays its Philly debut tonight at Kungfu Necktie to benefit the Little Berlin artist space in North Philly. w/ Sweet Sister Ray Band, Pile of Girls, Charmaine’s Names, The Other Band, Ladies Auxiliary, Puppetyranny, No Face, 7 p.m., $10, 21+, Kungfu Necktie, 1250 North Front St., Kungf Necktie.com

Posted by John Vettese @ 3:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Comments (0)

Q&A with SHARI SOLANIS: "The goal isn't pornography"
What we're trying to do this weekend
SEXY TIME Q&A: I've never had an orgasm during sex with a man — and I'm 30!
Q&A with Tony Goldwyn: "Life is gray, and relationships are, too"
ICE CUBE: In Memoriam: Joe Tartaglia
CONCERT REVIEW: Primus (3D & quadraphonic sound) @ The Tower 10/17
NOW SEE THIS: Transit cop arrests marijuana activist for alleged disorderly conduct.
Coming soon to Philly: Two cockamamie movie promotion schemes
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: The Archbishop meets the Geator, the Mayor goes suit shopping, Le Bec Fin fin.
NOW SEE THIS: Tim and Eric direct Terry Crews for Old Spice

About this blog

Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

Follow Critical Mass editors Patrick Rapa and Emily Guendelsberger on Twitter:

@mission2denmark | @emilygee

Search this blog:

Topics:

Blog archives:

May
April
March

February
January

Past Archives: