Now that spring has sprung (or at least tried to…), it’s easy to note how many instrumental prog acts have sprouted in the past decade. Most of them followed the trail blazed by Misha Mansoor and Animals As Leaders (of course courtesy of Meshuggah); however, of late a growing number of acts have taken inspiration from different, older avenues. Jakub Zytecki, the wunderkind guitarist for Polish progressive rock/metal act DispersE, has recently branched off and waded into the waters of solo instrumental music. Like Plini and Polyphia, there’s a much greater spectrum of influences at play than djent (riffs are not the emphasis here). There’s a touch of Steve Vai, a sprinkle of the early 00s British math rock scene (think Sargent House’s in-house style), but the songs display a keen electronic and psychedelic angle. While Jakub states he was influenced by the 60s and 70s, this is decidedly forward-thinking in its immersion in classic technique. Melody, careful repetition, and legitimately hip-shaking rhythmic lead work creates instrumental music that is groovy in the old-fashioned sense much more than it is anything close to pit-ready.
This re-release is a combination of Jakub’s two previously self-released EPs. Feather Bed is more hypnotic and psychedelic in nature – if there were an artist to link Tame Impala to Periphery, this EP is the best showcase of making instrumental prog as melodic and ethereal as possible. Ladder Head is the newest of the two EPs and showcases Jakub’s greater command over his entire musical arsenal. It’s a tad heavier – with some honest to goodness riffs – but the graceful display of melodies (and a stronger electronic emphasis) hint at greater things to come; Ladder Head is the slightly stronger of the two releases, as Zytecki’s understanding of his musical vision is greater. These songs are damn catchy, not just easy-and-fun-listening. It’s a touch more straight-forward, even if it’s broader in scope.
All this talk of instrumental music is a touch misleading, as the vocalist for DispersE, Rafal Biernecki, drops by intermittently throughout the two EPs’ runtime. While his vocal work is certainly suitable and airy, those moments detract from Jakub Zytecki’s clear musical voice. Scale The Summit (or what was the band many moons ago) always mentioned their strings were their voices, and on his inaugural release, Zytecki’s tone and timbre have been established: warm, uplifting, and friendly. This is music meant to soothe the soul, even as it challenges the mind.
