One Bright Sign is the official debut album from Seattle band Epigene. Their music is best described as modern melodic pop/rock that incorporates the elements of 70's R&B, the kinetic energy of New Wave and dramatic el... more »ements of progressive rock. Epigene songwriter Sean Bigler's compositions remain accessible on the surface but contain a lyrical & musical depth that is revealed after repeated listens. His remarkably elastic tenor recalls a young Sting or even Stevie Wonder and can swing from soft to overdrive from song to song. "Lonely Together Forever", the album's opener, is funkified driving rock about a miserable couple too afraid to break up. In contrast, "You bring out the Best in Me" is a piece of Stevie Wonder-inspired R&B positivity about true love with a Rhodes, sequencers and swirling backwards pianos over a layered dance groove. "Troubled Man" is dark, brooding hip-hop jazz reminiscent of Steely Dan. The troubled man in the narrative was inspired by Jack Nicolson's lonely, shut-down character in the movie Five Easy Pieces and the ending melancholy trumpet perfectly captures the despair of a man cut off from others and his own feelings. The album's 14 immaculately arranged songs cover! a lot of ground both musically and emotionally, from the frantic melodic punk of "Night Rally" (think pre-orchestral XTC) to the languid, trance-like "Sleeptime." The album seems tied together by an underlying theme of hope over despair seen though various character sketches and emotional conflicts. One constant attribute of One Bright Sign is a highly developed and creative sense of melody; the kind aspired to but rarely seen these days. The result is a near-perfect synthesis of past musical styles into a modern, compelling sound with a vulnerability that won't leave you cold.« less
One Bright Sign is the official debut album from Seattle band Epigene. Their music is best described as modern melodic pop/rock that incorporates the elements of 70's R&B, the kinetic energy of New Wave and dramatic elements of progressive rock. Epigene songwriter Sean Bigler's compositions remain accessible on the surface but contain a lyrical & musical depth that is revealed after repeated listens. His remarkably elastic tenor recalls a young Sting or even Stevie Wonder and can swing from soft to overdrive from song to song. "Lonely Together Forever", the album's opener, is funkified driving rock about a miserable couple too afraid to break up. In contrast, "You bring out the Best in Me" is a piece of Stevie Wonder-inspired R&B positivity about true love with a Rhodes, sequencers and swirling backwards pianos over a layered dance groove. "Troubled Man" is dark, brooding hip-hop jazz reminiscent of Steely Dan. The troubled man in the narrative was inspired by Jack Nicolson's lonely, shut-down character in the movie Five Easy Pieces and the ending melancholy trumpet perfectly captures the despair of a man cut off from others and his own feelings. The album's 14 immaculately arranged songs cover! a lot of ground both musically and emotionally, from the frantic melodic punk of "Night Rally" (think pre-orchestral XTC) to the languid, trance-like "Sleeptime." The album seems tied together by an underlying theme of hope over despair seen though various character sketches and emotional conflicts. One constant attribute of One Bright Sign is a highly developed and creative sense of melody; the kind aspired to but rarely seen these days. The result is a near-perfect synthesis of past musical styles into a modern, compelling sound with a vulnerability that won't leave you cold.
CD Reviews
Real Good Set
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com | usa | 03/05/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I got to hear this Disc recently&truly enjoyed the elements of it.Level 42 Meets Mid 70's Paul Mccartney&Wings with a touch of Tears of Fears.I was truly digging the Overall Arrangements&instrumentation here.the Vocals are Cool.this is a Cool Set of Songs keep a Ear out for this Set."
Indie Music Review
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com | 01/09/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As explained in the liner notes, epigene is a word used to describe something on the surface, or just below the surface of the earth. The Seattle based quintet Epigene takes a similar approach in its songwriting. The music on One Bright Sun, the band's debut LP, holds elements of depth and design while still being sing-along pop friendly. Sean Bigler, the group's singer/ guitarist/ keyboardist and all around main man, fuses wah guitars, modern rock production and 70's era soul sensibilities on tracks like "You Bring Out the Best in Me" and "Lonely Together Forever." With the help of backup singer/ keyboardist Bonnie Lykes, the bubbly bop of "Pearl Out of the Shell" helps center the band's sound before it takes off in various other sonic directions.The decibels and tempo heat up on "Night Rally," a tune that pushes the rock beats and new wave-esque synth lines while detailing the drama of a protest march. To mix up the sound even further, horn blasts and erratic beats set the background for the riddalin pulse of "Living in a Hypermarket." Then "Mr. Action Fast" questions the validity of a certain big budget Hollywood entertainer. Bigler sings, "Exploding cars, karate chops/ You're the natural at playing the bad cops/ We see you comin' on with the band/ Now who would listen except your movie fans?" One of this disc's finest moments is "Troubled Man," a tune inspired by the Jack Nicholson character in the movie Five Easy Pieces. Although this song pushes its songwriting style further from the core, this dark jazz pop track swirls a near perfect hook through a dizzy haze of self doubt. Epigene's One Bright Sun rocks, bops and grooves with easy melodic lines suspended over sophisticated musical ideas. Bigler and his band understand how to meld the nuances of radio friendly hooks with engaging, interesting tunes. And they do it consistently through the fourteen songs on this impressive independent release."
All Music Guide Review
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com | 01/09/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Epigene is a solid, Brit-rock influenced pop band that owes a strong debt to the blue-eyed soul of Level 42, Paul Weller, and Paul McCartney. Guitarist/vocalist Sean Bigler has a crisp guitar attack not unlike a pre-13 Blur's Graham Coxon and delivers his vocals with an assured clarity that harkens back to the Fixx's Cy Curnin. Significantly, Bigler has a knack for writing story songs with a personal bent that nonetheless express universal truths. On "Lonely Together Forever," a witty portrait of convenient love, Bigler sings, "Bitter Rogers, Fred Despair afraid of dancing solo/At first a desperate affair no love from Cupid's arrow." This, combined with Epigene's ability to marry their more modern rock impulses with an uncanny sense of R&B makes for an invigorating listening. Case in point is the brilliant "You Bring Out the Best in Me," a reflective, keyboard-driven number that could work equally well on both a Jamiroquai album as a Gene release. One Bright Sign is a stellar, if somewhat derivative debut that showcases the band's '70s AOR mentality. - Matt Collar"
Good music
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com | 01/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow, what a great C.D. His voice has a tymber that is surely a gift from God himself, this C.D. doesn't leave you wishing for more, it's right there, all the tracks are strong
and well thought out, a breath of fresh air for an ailing Seattle music scene, these guy's have a future!
It's just a matter of time before they launch a promiseing
career, their live show's are captivating, and the band has developed a fresh new sound with a new Bassist and guitarist!"
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1