Artist: Fractal Album: Aftermath (2007) Label: Private Release Website: http://www.fractal-continum.com Reviewer: Bill Knispel

Track List: 01. Aftermath (9:11) Fractal is the result of synchronicity. Drummer Paul Strong, recently relocated to the Bay area from the UK, is looking for a new group of musicians to work with. He asks a friend to make a post to (the now defunct) mailing list Elephant Talk, a gathering place for fans and aficionados of that most British of progressive bands, King Crimson. Jim Mallonee (bass) and Nic Roozeboom (guitars and allsorts) respond to this post, and a strong musical bond is formed. The name themselves Fractal, and release an album, Continuum, which receives positive reviews from a number of reviewers on CDBaby and other websites. Quickly taking on a fourth member in vocalist/guitarist Josh Friedman, the band is poised for future success... Except that it takes them 4 years to release a follow up in the form of the limited edition single Aftermath. At just over 9 minutes, “Aftermath” is a fairly ambitious piece, and works hard to fit a variety of sounds between lead in and fadeout. The first thing I notice in listening is that Paul Strong’s drumming feels very jazzy to me...he has a light touch, perfect for the gentle shifts and change-ups the composition requires. Bassist Jim Mallonee locks in well with Strong, and his tone is fairly warm, occasionally taking on a depth that is nearly piano-like. His presence isn’t over emphasised, but the depth he adds is an important part of the group’s sound. I’m not sure who is providing the majority of the guitar playing...I’d assume Nic Roozeboom, as it’s his main contribution, but his main tone is slightly ragged and almost grungey, and his keyboard and guitar synth additions ensure that instrumental sections take on a general sound that bears some comparison to...you guessed it...King Crimson. Kind of appropriate, considering the group’s genesis, don’t you think? That leaves Josh Friedman. My first impression of his vocal contributions was not, shall we say, a positive one. I felt his delivery was fairly flat and emotionless. I didn’t feel anything radiating off the words he was singing. I did feel that his performance improved as the song went on, but on first listen, I was somewhat less than impressed. With repeated listens, however, I’ve found myself warming to him some. I still feel that his vocals are not as strong as I’d perhaps like, but they are acceptable, and perhaps better than in a majority of smaller independent bands, prog, rock or otherwise. “Aftermath” explores a number of musical landscapes. Vocal sections tend to have a slightly more melodic/symphonic feel to them, with synth strings and a rolling bass/piano melody that pulls the song along. Interspersed throughout are some heavier bursts of almost white noise distorted guitar, which on first listen (and even several listens later) made me think the CD player was skipping. Fractal has definitely taken a lesson or two from their King Crimson albums, as interlocking ostinato phrases are often played against each other, with just enough angularity and edge to create tension. I hear quite a little bit of the organised chaos of the 1994-1996 Double Trio in this song, and hearing the influence not so much a discrete building block as a touch point was nice. Nine minutes is just not enough time to properly get a handle on a band, and when that band is offering changes and new bits every few minutes, it makes it even harder. I can only hope that a new Fractal release is not another 4 years in the making...theirs is a sound I’d like to explore more of soon. Band Members: Josh Friedman – vocals, guitars Jim Mallonee – bass guitar Nic Roozeboom – guitars, guitar synthesizers, keyboards, background vocals Paul Strong – drums Music – Nic Roozeboom Lyrics – Josh Friedman, Jim Mallonee, Roozeboom, Paul Strong, Jessica Morgan