Nothing To Say
Vintage League, 2019
8/10
On the debut album from Alan Evans we get to see what he’s capable of when he comes out from behind the drum kit, and it’s an impressive collection of psychedelic, funk, and soul sounds where he handles vocals, drums, guitar and bass and takes help from a small handful of players to flesh out the varied listen.
“Buffalo” starts the record with a retro feel where grooves are not in short supply as Evans hits some high notes, and “Nothing To Say” follows with a dense setting of ‘70s rock’n’roll spirit. Further along, “Too Much For Me” is a subdued moment of rhythm and melody, while “Oh Tammi” brings in a fuzzed out atmosphere of playful instrumentation.
The back half doesn’t disappoint either, with the charged and calculated “Pressure”, the soulful “Sparky The Flying Dog”, and the nearly prog-rock friendly “Part II- Waiting On Command”, “Life After Life” ends the listen with a calm and mysterious setting that’s about as close to balladry as Evans will get.
Recorded over a 4 year period, Nothing To Say flows seamlessly as Evans and company display plenty of power and melody amid very high quality songwriting. Perhaps best known for his work in Soulive, Evans proves here that a booming solo career is right around the corner.
Travels wel with: Lettuce- Crush; The London Souls- Here Come The Girls