The Gravel Project consists of guitarist-vocalist Andrew Gravel, his brother, keyboardist Jordan Gravel, drummer Dave Fox, and percussionist-vocalist Brandon Mayes. New album Many Miles Ahead blends classic rock, blues, and other old school influences into a chunky block of feisty nuggets, songs that introduce themselves by kicking down the door with exuberant musical muscle.
Opening track “No More Fire” swaggers in with Fox’s backbeat establishing a foothold in the listener’s mind. Gravel’s edgy guitar phrase winds around the groove with a soulful verve, a movement of sound that zigzags with an authoritative persistence. An organ swirls its soulful chords around the soundscape with true feeling, finding just the right places beside the lead guitar and within the openings left by the rhythm section.
“Big Deep Blues” comes skipping in with riffy guitar licks. Soon, a clavinet takes over, making more of a jumpy sensation. Throw in a smooth, flowing vocal and a lively uptempo groove, and this song moves around the listeners’ mind like a slithering soulful snake.
Mid-tempo, “The One” finds Gravel singing his soulful best, reaching emotional and vocal highs as he contemplates his life and time spent with his soulmate. Updrafts of organ chords, textured backing vocals, and a sensitive groove below come together with a fine stew of sound, especially the emotive lead guitar, high and thick notes that waft up from a warm place to envelop this song in its loving arms.
“Earth Mother,” put together with swatches of moody guitar architecture and a slightly haunted vocal, travels the mellow lane until a primitive groove takes over. One feels the speedy drum excursions erupting within the breezy sonic landscapes, a pulse that draws the ear deeper into this eerie other world, a dreamscape that might remind of the OK Corral meets The Twilight Zone. It’s uncanny how well Gravel and his band mates can corral together all of these eerie interpretations on their instruments before weaving them into an exotic texture.
“Facts And Fiction” bops along like mid-20th century hard jazz, a driving measure conjured by the instruments running in each won’s direction, somehow held together by vibe and feeling. Charging organ chords ride over a smooth, pulsating bass line, widening with each chord into a sprinting force. The organ turns to an edgier timbre as Gravel spreads his drawling vocal line over all. When the band unleashes more of its fire one can feel the impact of each nugget coming from each instrument.
The mid-tempo flow of “Saving Up My Love” reminds of the cool blues of Robert Cray. Gravel turns his chorus into a personal anthem of love, a wide vocal approach that opens up the vibe. Floating horn lines keep this beautifully in the neighborhood of shiny soul-jazz fusion and Gravel’s lead guitar smolders through like a search party leader running point like a torch bearing traveler. It all adds up to one great feeling and its sweep gently carries the listener along.
“By My Side” stomps in with a gigantic guitar and bass sound. That big lurching sound returns again and again, punctuating some pretty sections that rely on smooth vocal runs and shiny organ texture to carry a large swath of feeling. One can greatly appreciate both sections of this song because of how well they contrast one another.
Moving at a reggae clip without being reggae, “Cool Rain” stabs forward with a Carlos Santana inspired lead guitar line, sharp, colorful, and sweet, many layers inside the phrase. Gravel’s sensitive approach to the fast, twisty lyrics make its own impact as the other elements, swirling organ, bulbous groove, and a sweet something moving in the backdrop, come together in a mound of sound that contrasts well with that sweet guitar.
“Jimi (Bonus Track)” feels familiar in its groove, a smooth running bass line supporting Gravel’s husky vocal. His vocal makes his “Jimi” story come alive, a vibrant testament to the power of music and its ability to transform one’s life. Every instrument percolates upwards, motions rise, just as Jimi’s story tells of his success. It’s fun because of how it all develops from a strong impression to a much stronger one, a convergence of clear voice and vigorous instrumentation. One will also enjoy Gravel’s guitar somersaulting over a funked up groove.
Funked up workout “Funkanee (Bonus Track)” balances a Santana percussion influence with funky organ riffs and an incisive lead guitar line that zigzags in around the groove. One can picture the band having fun playing this, each strutting his stuff, showcasing open space funk grooves as well as upper register instruments handled by players who follow their tremendous instincts to their glorious, inevitable conclusions.
Close out cut, “Brothers (Bonus Track)” injects a country flavor to its swaggering rock. A country sweetness in Gravel’s amicable guitar phrase keeps it honkytonk. Meanwhile, the rest of the band goes to town, slamming out hefty rhythms, grooves, and spiraling organ magic.
With this Many Miles Ahead album as their calling card, The Gravel Project will be sweeping up the busier blues venues and scoring plenty of local airplay.
http://www.thegravelproject.com/
