Volatile - Project 206 (Album Review)
Project 206 is, their own words, “a freakout jazz-rock ensemble based in Michigan, formed out of the mutual desire to push the boundaries of genre and our own musicianship.” At Earthworks Harvest Gathering 2019, I was able to catch this band in action playing to a small, rain-soaked audience, and their collective energy journeying into uncharted sonic territories left an impact on me as a listener from that day forward. As a keyboardist, I focused on Galen Bundy’s vocabulary and stellar use of effects from guitar pedal companies like Dr. Scientist and Michigan’s own Cusack Music. I eagerly describe them to folks as “if Thelonius Monk ran a sludge-metal project,” and with their jazz education and dedication on full display, interwoven with heavier rock tones, was reminiscent of bands like Shining or Stimpy Lockjaw. After receiving support on their Indiegogo campaign, Project 206 has 4 new tracks on their recently released EP, Volatile, an album that “represents times of great change and upheaval in both our personal lives, and the world. This music is a source of catharsis for us, and we hope it can be for you as well.” (Indiegogo Page)
The album kicks in the door with the title track, “Volatile,” which drives hard with some winding saxophone and synth melodies on top of frenetic drum parts and meaty bass lines. The tune opens up, pairing odd meter shifts with the arpeggiation of the keyboards for an interesting counterbalance to the intro. It then builds to display Travis Auckerman’s drum talents on a solo feature right before the end of the tune. “As I Looked” stabilizes the listener for a bit, latching on to a catchy melody and leaving space for keys and saxophone to solo as everyone builds on the established groove. “Test the Ground” starts with a melodic statement, and then opens up the rest of the song to free jazz textures with statements of the melody appearing in different contexts. It’s almost as if the melody is the subject and the different textures are the experimental tests they are conducting on the phrase. Finally, “The Fishtank” bubbles and churns with swirling textures seeped in reverb and delay, punctuated by gritty hits from drums, distorted keys and bass, and multiphonic saxophone statements. It suspends all you’ve come to expect from the previous tunes and leaves you floating in a sea of sonic soundscapes.
Project 206 really is the sum of its parts. Each member is skilled and trained on their instrument, bold and daring in their compositional choices, and eager to explore different sounds and styles within their configuration. Sure, you could algorithmically compare them to other fusion artists or groups that weave heavier music genres into their jazz foundation, but that would only describe a piece of this group’s character. Volatile is an album for those who love experimenting in music and delight in the unexpected, and this EP definitely leaves me wanting more from this group down the line. Until then, I guess Galen Bundy’s keyboard/effects pedal Instagram posts will have to suffice!
Album Credits:
Galen Bundy - Bandleader, Compositions, Keyboard and Linnstrument (Proton Candy, Galen Bundy Trio)
Peter Formanek - Tenor Sax
Joe Fee - Bass Guitar (Woody Goss Trio, Rachel Mazer)
Travis Aukerman - Drums (Talking Ear, various trio projects)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GalenBundyMusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galenbundy/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVQ6JXXfSxpsJXzmtBj8SA
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/461ZQEeqdjM4xwgYECzPC8?si=TSmlXhXBREWV8nu_ozJvlA
Bandcamp: https://galenbundy.bandcamp.com/album/volatile
