“At least to begin with I would recommend closing our eyes, and simply allow the mind, the body and the world to be exactly as they are from moment to moment” is the captivating bait that invites us into the rollercoaster of an album Brian DeGraw master minded.
Best known for his eccentric personality and outstanding work in the group Gang Gang Dance, DeGraw has recently begun a career as a solo artist. And an artist he is—skillfully mixing and matching sound after sound into one entrancing debut album, which gives bEEdEEgEE a noticeable start in the music industry.
SUM/ONE starts out intriguingly enough with the whimsically enticing sounds of “Helium Anchor.” Trapped in the beats of bEEdEEgEE it is possible to imagine oneself as anything or to imagine oneself anywhere. The synthesized sounds are masterfully configured in a way that captures an emotion and solidifies it through the music.
From this dynamite song DeGraw moves into another home run. “Little Rain Man” allows for a more simplistic approach to shine through. This song has a lot less going on than what appears on the rest of the album. The beats and rhythms naturally weave through one another with clear mastery.
Unfortunately, after this song, DeGraw loses his touch. The rest of the album brings on the word cluttered. In attempts to entwine the many sounds of a synthesizer, SUM/ONE brings on too much at one time. It feels as though the beats are simply rambling and the tracks lose focus. Although there are splendid moments that seem to regain DeGraw’s sonic touch—like the easy sounds of “Empty Vases”—this album seems to lose its center as a whole.
In the end, it is difficult to criticize the obvious talents of DeGraw. Although SUM/ONE could be more purposeful, it is still a strong start if he wants to continue his solo career. He molds perfectly the kind of music that will continue to lure our ADHD generation.
Rating: B-
