I recently discovered American musician Alec Berlin through his track Flatbush Jaywalk and I really enjoyed his sound. His music is probably best placed within the rock genre, although it’s also fairly different from anything else I’ve ever heard. I was very excited to hear his EP, Life in the Bog, and it’s every bit as good as I thought it would be!
By Jane Howkins
The EP starts out with opener Life in the Bog, which kicks things off with some discordant synth and guitar melodies. It sounds rather interesting, displaying Alec’s technical skills well. The song slows down a little after the opening riff, with the bass taking more of the centre stage, before the riffs kick back in again. It’s a little experimental, but the music is very well written, seeing the melodies working well together despite the divergent nature of the tune.
What I Wish I Had Said has more of a traditional rock and roll sound, although it’s still different enough to stand out. The beat is upbeat and infectious, getting stuck in your head straight away. The main guitar melody has a lovely clean sound that suits the blues genre well, changing slightly as the piece continues on. Little motifs break off from the main melody, seeming rather beautiful at times.
Iota (Not One) changes things up even more, sounding almost like a ska song at times. The rhythm has a staccato quality, as the guitars and bass dance around in the background. It’s actually quite jazzy at times, adding another genre to Alec’s talented bowstring. Alec’s music is instrumental on this EP, but it really works, particularly on this track. It’s one of my favourite songs on the entire EP!
President’s Day is a little slower, having a steady beat that continues through the piece in the background. A clean guitar melody is used to fit the rhythm, whilst the lead guitar plays along in the forefront of the tune, acting as a vocal line otherwise would. The beat lends itself somewhat to the country genre, as do the guitars. It makes for an interesting listen overall – the twin guitar leads are particularly stunning to behold.
Next up is Flatbush Jaywalk – the tune that originally drew me to Alec’s music. An immensely heavy riff kickstarts things, before a haunting melody appears on the verses, sounding a lot mellower. The clash between the heavy opening and the more melodic verses adds a lovely sense of dynamism to the piece, changing things up nicely. This is a stunning track to listen to!
ROYGBIV closes the EP, bringing in elements from across the entire EP. The fast beat mixes well with the guitars – in the background a jazzy rhythm guitar fits the percussion, with the lead guitar having a classic country/blues twang to it. It all sounds very positive, making you want to dance along in time!
Alec Berlin is a really interesting musician, doing something very different. I really enjoyed the songs on Life in the Bog and I hope our readers will do too, as there should be something here for everyone!
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