It’s no secret that I love it when bands let loose and experiment with genre-bending, convention-breaking styles like mad virtuosic geniuses. But the one thing that I love more than that expressive freedom is when a band crafts cosmic compositions that explode into a starburst of funk, rock, and groove-dripping psychedelia. Enter Mothership Radio, a dauntlessly creative six-piece from Brooklyn, and their debut album ‘Gravity is Situational.’
Spearheaded by the robust vocals of Ria Burns-Wilder, the album’s distinctive, electricity-melting instrumentals are decorated with a rich tapestry of soul that you don’t find within every album you come across. Fuelled by rhythm-hungry guitarists Jim Cooney and Chas Meyer, as well as the incredibly talented Angelo Miliano (keyboards), Pete Smeding (bass), and Emerson Williams (drums), Mothership Radio’s new album is simply rocketry. Who feels like jumping on this cosmic rollercoaster?
Gravity is Situational
So, the first track that I’d love for you to experience for yourself is none other than the first single on the album: ‘Five Alarm Fire.’ Much like the name suggests, this song is the epitome of rarity and intense energy; you’ll know what I mean when you hear it. Straight off the bat, the track opens with the sounds of something we’re all used to on the road: impatient beeping. With this small addition, Mothership Radio is already painting a picture of heightened emotions that have no way to go and are just waiting to explode. How do they explode?
They explode with incredibly colourful instrumental harmonies that will have you raising your eyebrows the moment you hear them. Kickstarted by the glassy timbre of the drums, the melody is instantly made vibrant by the chaotic marriage between the crooning bass and the distortion-studded guitar. And man, when you combine the perfectly paced string work with the talent of Emerson Williams and Angelo Miliano, the end result is something that I can describe as an intricately auroral mosaic of colour and sound. Then, when you add Ria’s vocals into the mix…complete magic. Her voice has such a mature tone to it, it’s like listening to a toffee-soaked moonshine; there is a distinct sweetness to her performance, and yet she balances that sweetness with a one hell of a kicking power.
What’s even more impressive is that given how many unique elements are brightening the texture of this track, it never seems like too much or too little. The way that Ria’s rich, smooth vocals contrast with the airy near-touch of the drums, the way that the strings curl around each to reinforce the groove…‘Five Alarm Fire’ is a masterclass in composition and balance.
Now, the next track that I want to talk about is ‘The Void.’ Much like ‘Five Alarm Fire,’ this track starts with some introductory sound effects, although this time you can hear the muffled overlap of news broadcasts. I love this inclusion for one reason: the disorderly hotchpotch of the presenter’s voices creates such a sharp contrast when the meticulously structured instrumentation takes over the dissonance.
Speaking of that instrumentation, I’ve got to say that I think ‘The Void’ offers one of the catchiest melodies on the album. Every beat is either needle sharp or undulating like a wave, and I found myself head-bopping to this groovy jam. I couldn’t help it!
I also loved that the relationship between the instrumentation and Ria’s vocals seems a lot more tight-knit in this track. What I mean by that is that the acrobatic instrumental harmonies meld so seamlessly to every word that Ria sings that it’s like her voice is simply oozing magnetism.
Whilst we’re on the topic of Ria’s voice, I’ve got to mention that her delivery is so enchanting on this track. By no means does she abandon her signature robustness, but you do get to see another side of her range. There are segments in ‘The Void’ where Ria will sing with a sylphlike delicateness, and it adds an additional layer of depth to the narrative, especially since it follows lyrics like ‘I scream into / Into the void.’ This may be a little thing, but it makes me think of the relief you’d feel after expressing all of your pent-up emotions as loudly as you could. In other words, it’s this thoughtfulness that allows Mothership Radio to truly enrich and personalise the messages behind their tracks.
Befitting of a song called ‘The Void,’ the guitar solo in this track has such a potent hook in its slightly melancholic edge that, once more, the narrative evolved for me. Not only is this single a sonic tale of expression, but it’s also one that emphasises the sorrow that comes with such a powerful need for that liberation. And this features on a debut album!
Now, for the last track, I’ve chosen to discuss ‘Alive Again.’ Within the first couple of seconds, I found myself smiling. The warmth of the drums and the summery energy of the guitars instantly transported me to the times in my life when I felt so happy and relaxed, knowing that I was about to start a new chapter. Ria’s vocals also share in this homely glow, and her particular brand of velvetiness works perfectly in a song that glistens with an ‘everything will be alright’ energy.
The more relaxed tempo and dynamics cast a softer alpenglow over the track’s texture, which is another thing that shows the band’s range and ability to control their unique sound. As you know, the previous songs on this album have been a kaleidoscopic adventure of funk-blitzed rock, but ‘Alive Again’ has a beautiful familiarity to it that seems perfect for the album’s penultimate track.
Make no mistake, however, just because we are seeing a more relaxed side to Mothership Radio’s style, that doesn’t mean that their energy takes a dip. Ria’s voice still delivers every lyric like it will be the last time she ever sings, the instrumental harmonies emanate this gold-steeped sheen, and the relationship between the two will leave you feeling refreshed with positivity—exactly how it feels when you know good things are coming your way.
All in all, ‘Gravity is Situational’ promises to let you take a peek inside a new world of genre fusion. While listening to this album, you’ll travel through time, and you’ll jump across dimensions. And most importantly, every song will leave you feeling supercharged and ready to embrace your inner unique flair. I still can’t believe that this is Mothership Radio’s first album!
Source: https://www.instagram.com/mothershipradioband/
ALT: Genre-breaking six-piece Mothership Radio performs at the New York restaurant Tap That.
Mothership Radio
Mothership Radio formed a little over a year ago, but the infectious energy they bring to every performance could convince you that they’d been a tight-knit six-piece for a decade.
It was only last summer that the group were brightening the crowd at their very first live performance at the well-loved Tap That restaurant in New York. During this show, Mothership Radio graced the onlookers with their vibrant renditions of everything from Peace Frog by The Doors to Give It To Me Baby by Rick James. Best of all, as you can tell from their Instagram page, they were undoubtedly having the time of their lives. There’s a real love for the craft there that is evident in the way that every single member performs, and it’s invigorating to witness!
From this initial gig, Mothership Radio have gone on to wow crowds at venues like Littlefield and Berlin, all while playing alongside other spectacular artists like Wes Orange, Nature Creeps Beneath, and Uncle Ebenezer. Returning to Littlefield for their album release party, it’s very clear that wherever Mothership Radio goes, they excel at inspiring loyalty out of their fans.
‘Gravity is Situational’ is available to listen to across all major streaming platforms right now! You know what to do!
Till next time.