Sounds like … anthemic rock akin to U2, The Police, and Tree63, blending electronic elements with organic like Jesus Jones and The KillersAt a glance … Mute Math is easily one of the year's best new bands in Christian music, evidenced by this appetizer of what's to come in 2005Track Listing- Control
- Peculiar People
- OK
- Reset
- Plan B
- Progress
- Afterward
In late 2002, Christian music fans let out a collective sigh of disappointment when the news hit that Earthsuit was calling it quits after just one album (2000's highly acclaimed Kaleidoscope Superior). But take heart: The eclectic rock band lives on through offshoot Mute Math, featuring Earthsuit's vocalist/keyboardist Paul Meany and drummer/programmer Darren King, along with guitarist Greg Hill.
With their Reset EP, Mute Math offers a fresh spin on a classic sound, starting with the anthemic rock of The Police and U2, and then layering it with modern electronic techniques and vintage keyboards. They're not the first to blend an organic band sound with computers, as anyone who's heard '90s band Jesus Jones or today's The Killers can attest, but Mute Math sure does it well. And it doesn't hurt to have producer Tedd T. (Sanctus Real) on your side either; he's made the band the flagship artist on his new Teleprompt imprint.
This is a wonderfully mixed rock record, epitomized by the slamming drums, soaring vocals, and atmospheric production (and lyrics) of the lead single "Control." There's an interesting rock and techno hybrid found in "Plan B", and "Peculiar People" uses the same blend of rock reggae heard so often with Earthsuit minus the rapcore elements. The underlying message of the songs on this EP centers on accepting life's uncertainties and finding peace in giving it up to God.
My only gripe is that even with seven tracks and thirty minutes of music, Reset runs too short to take too seriously—because it's an EP, it inherently lacks the content to make it a "classic." But for $7, this is a no-brainer. If you like melodic rock, you really need to hear Mute Math. May as well start with this musical appetizer from one of the year's best new bands in anticipation of their full-length debut in 2005.
