Bill Dolan/JBe – Limited-edition split EP
Sixgunlover Records (4/20/10)
Indie rock / Alternative

This limited-edition, four-track split begins with two from Bill Dolan of 5ive Style, Heroic Doses and The Fire Theft fame. Both tracks, containing only an acoustic guitar and bass, flow beautifully thanks to some great guitar work and a torrent of wonderfully realised ideas. Each feels like a jammed-out stream of consciousness, bursting with energy and flair, especially opening track “Sense of Humor”, which jitters through its one minute and forty-two seconds with a funky pomp and lack of any recognisable attention span. Second track from Bill Dolan, “Let Motchingers”, is a slightly more laid back affair, sauntering through with a lazy-day, front-porch play-around feel.

Part two of this split EP belongs to JBe, who are a far more band-orientated outfit. First out of the blocks from their stable is “Ferment the Taste”, with its mellowed out, and at times, soulful flavors. The press release tells me it’s all about “finding time for oneself whilst attempting to rob a bank on a goat”; something that sounds very appealing if this is the soundtrack. Repeated listening and I find myself picturing friends and a warm summer night with some drinks, outside, swapping instruments and songs. With such a relaxed, feel-good vibe, the addition of the brass at the end really brings it home, blissed -out and triumphant, before leading into JBe’s second track, “Claw From the Sky”, which acts more like an extended outro to their first track, with some screeching sound effects for good measure.

Read More