Break of Reality –
Ten
2014, Break of Reality
2014, Break of Reality
Eastman School of Music alum Break of Reality has been
plying its distinct brand of cello rock for nearly a decade now. The New York City-based quartet has released
a series of albums that run the gamut from original tunes to dynamic covers;
developing a dedicated following. The
band recently released their fifth album; a collection of original tunes
entitled Ten.
Ten opens with the
self-referential strains of “Helix”, driven by a serious rock and roll
sensibility. Lyric and percussive cello
lines intertwine, with percussion providing a sense of sanity and
stability. The energy here is
tremendous, and Break of Reality sounds like they’re ready to explode. The listener is wrapped up in a revolving
wall of sound from the outset. “Storm’s
End” is a highly artistic piece of baroque pop.
The rhythms are pure rock and roll, yet the melody line has an early
Italian madrigal feel. This is serious
music for fans of classical music, film scores and unusual rock and roll hybrids. Break of Reality explores gorgeous and
complex moods on “Star”, building pensive swells with a sagacious sense of
internal energy. The band uses dual
melody lines that circumscribe beauty with an edge of minor key darkness.
“Drift Apart” begins with a rhythmic pizzicato base and
adding a lyric, mid-to-low range melody line.
You’ll want to close your eyes and soak in the depth and breadth of
sound here; it’s simply gorgeous. “Nine
Deep” has a dark and percussive underpinning.
The lyric melodic build is right out front, creating an atmosphere that
is powerful and moving. Break of Reality
changes moods with “Light the Fuse”, a quietly rolling composition that
transitions into a thunderous dance. “Uprising”
begins with an aboriginal sound; an ancient feel to the percussion. Break of Reality takes a more atmospheric
approach this time, building musical scenery that is lush and full of dramatic
turns.
“Levy” is a pensive and perambulating piece; an intriguing orchestral
still life full of movement and color.
The band transitions on “Other Worlds” to more of a mid-range musical
score sound. There’s a bit too much
center in this recording, particularly in the early going, but this is more an
issue of production than of composition.
The breaks in this piece have a stunningly dark beauty in them full of
rhythms and tonal rhyme. Ten closes with “Six”, with Break of
Reality utilizing layered melody lines and incorporating glock and xylophone in
with their distinctive 3-cello sound.
There’s a lazy energy that runs throughout the piece, and at five
minutes in length this might become a bit overwhelming, but it is a quietly
ambitious effort that is off the beaten path.
Break of Reality reaches for new heights on Ten, going all original with a stylistic
approach that blends the best elements of classical, rock and pop music
styles. The compositions on Ten are highly original and full of
life, and Break of Reality use killer phrasing and a nearly flawless sense of
timing and presence to build a collection of songs that will live in your mind
long after the tunes have faded from your ears.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)
Learn more at www.breakofreality.com.