Cloud Gavin

Cloud Gavin is a midwestern progressive/indie-rock band from Danville, Illinois. Music Michael Mind Review "Imagine a world where sub-genres ceased to exist; no more melodic hardcore, no more post-rock, no more progressive metal, no more prefix-anything. Many groups would be vulnerable to the possibility of dissolving into infinity if this proposed society came into existence, but it is safe to say that Cloud Gavin would be the first to go. Emerging from the ashes of burnoutbright and transplanted from Of Arizona, the Illinois-based group proves to be the definition of a musical melting pot in the most extreme sense of the term. From post-hardcore to progressive rock, their free debut LP Recycle and Create flaunts a plethora of influences that possess the ability to create something fantastic if blended just right. Rather than wandering down the beaten path and opting for a gradual introduction, Cloud Gavin sets themselves apart from the pack right away with “i’m a hurricane, covered in gasoline.”. After a wonderfully noisy wall of sound kicks into gear, the instrumentals switch back and forth from crystal-clear guitar-work to climaxing drums with a hint of distortion. As the track moves on, vocalist Zach Hudson makes the most extensive statement of them all by showing off a diverse skill-set that ranges from nasally pop-punk singing to emotionally refined screams, all backed up with self-reflective lyrics that are well worth reading in to. Remember though, this is just one track; with so many elements seamlessly placed inside a stand-alone piece, what else could be hiding around the corner on Recycle and Create? Well, if one turns their attention to “i created a dream…or, at least it created me.”, they will find another face of the group via an indie affair in the vein of Hell or High Water era As Cities Burn that maintains a peculiar atmosphere with ominously honest vibes (“Away from the grave that you built for yourself, is it really that hard?”). That’s not all though. After taking a listen to “Color Changes”, previously concealed alt-rock roots make their way to the surface as well. On the surface after repeated listens, it appears that this group can do virtually no wrong…right? Obviously, Recycle and Create is a widely assorted concoction of unique sounds present from song to song. While being a positive for the majority of the album, this does bring up the LP’s sole flaw though, as too much variance leaves the well-intended ideas jumbled together at times. Each track makes the transition of styles an enjoyable ride on a singular basis, but when listening to the LP straight through, it can become a mind-bending affair as concepts are repeatedly lost inside the album’s tangled progression. The situation at hand appears to be nothing more than the product of a young group experimenting with different musical aspects to find their niche though, and even then their developing sound still trumps those of many other acts with more albums and more experience. As long as Cloud Gavin can find a way to unify their sound while still utilizing fresh and distinct elements, then there is definitely a bright future ahead of them." Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.