Transforming Apollo - "Future Primitive"

Album review by Chris Meck

Transforming Apollo is a recent transplant to the area from Lincoln Nebraska. Composed of the brothers Kling (Erik on guitar/vocals and Kris on drums) and a female keyboardist, (Sarah Neal) Transforming Apollo is a spacey rock band with intelligent arrangements, nice hooks, and just a dash of kitschy new-wave synth for flavor.

While nearly each song has merit, there are some definite stand-outs. “Watercolor” starts with a great jerky guitar riff and morphs into a super-catchy Weezer-esque chorus. “You Would Never Know” makes sure the band can’t be dismissed as “just another pop band” with it’s moody intro, extreme dynamics, and usage of space. “Arboranne” has an anthemic quality, and “Marcus Aurelius” shows further growth beyond established pop structures. The last third of the record introduces odd-time changes and a willingness to deviate melodically from the poppier material found earlier on the album. Perhaps the lone misstep in the material is “Simple Faith”, a son’s lament for an absent father, which comes off as a little trite (Doesn’t Art Alexakis have sole rights to that topic anyways?). However, “Tomorrow is Now” closes the album on a high note.

“Future Primitive” does have a few problem areas. This album was recorded in one weekend, and occasionally sounds like it. There are some musical mistakes, some areas where the band could be “tighter”, so to speak. Of course, only a musician would notice. The rest of you feel free to disregard that observation. Additionally, the synthesizer sound most often utilized on the album is a good one, (in a goofy Rentals-ish sort of way) but it’s on every song. A little time spent finding some different sounds would greatly add interest. Backing vocals would also be a nice touch-they’re rare on “Future Primitive”. These minor problems aside, this is one of the more intriguing local debuts I’ve heard in awhile.

This is an interesting debut record from a band with loads of ideas and a knack for a hook. I don’t know about forever, but Transforming Apollo’s future may indeed be now, if “Future Primitive” is any indication.

--Chris Meck
chrismeck@thezone.org