Well, 2024 has already been full of many fantastic album releases. Tim Mechling, from Washingtones Records, is back with his second release of the year, following the innovative, The Vandal Hands of Man. His second release will be, Itself the Sea. Whereas, the Vandal Hands of Man, was more of a rock, ragtime, and blues album; Itself the Sea, is definitely more of a progressive rock album; with a 22-minute epic closer to boot! Itself the Sea will be released on CD and cassette on February 19. Tim and the label are planning to create a video that will cover the album concept. It will have a streaming release, now planned for March 1, 2024.
When I asked Tim, what inspired such a profound title like Itself the Sea; he immediately pointed me to the “Sea Curse Scene”, excerpt, with Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, in the 2019, movie, The Lighthouse. Watch it on the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrekMzfC7Gw
On Itself the Sea, Tim Mechling, sings vocals, and plays guitar, Wurlitzer, synthesizer, organ, bass, drums, and creates ambient sounds; Clay Christofferson, plays bass on “The Darkening”, he works on arrangement, synthesizer, and the ambient sound; Sam Chue, plays lead guitar and sings vocals on “Credits Roll”; Hannah Wyatt, plays violin, cello, and sings vocals; Charlie Krengel, plays lead guitar on “Must Be a Dream” and “The Darkening”, and creates ambient guitar on “The Orphan”; Spencer Duffy, plays drums on “Must Be a Dream”, “Credits Roll” and “The Darkening”; Tony Wright, plays synthesizer; John Swanke, plays synthesizer on “The Darkening”; and Phil Carter, plays drums on “The Darkening”.
“Triage”, is just over a minute-long; and it takes you to the sounds and trauma of a very busy emergency room. The sounds of slow, played guitar, are surrounded by the sounds of cardiac arrest and all manner of ER sounds.
“Must Be a Dream”, is the first full song, on the album. It is a deep dive into Pink Floyd guitar, with supporting drums. Tim sounds like David Gilmour singing while, Charlie Krengel, plays Gilmour-like lead guitar. Tim sings, “ A boiling sea. A bird in flight. A whale beset by flies. A hungry dog marauds the beach. Limping cold and blind. You just can’t place. The blurry face. A woman wearing blue. A painting dripping off the wall. A melting bride and groom. There’s something black and blue just out of hand. You’re running, but you’re sinking in the sand. It’s gaining on you; your legs are stiff as death. You feel it’s stinking breath upon your neck. This must be a dream”. Yes, indeed, a wonderful trip back to early Pink Floyd and the wonderful three albums they made between 1973 – 77.
“The Orphan”, sounds like something you would find on Led Zeppelin III or IV. An acoustic, travelling song. Something like “Going to California”, or the extra tracks that were released on later versions of the albums above, without the lyrics. It is an acoustic travelling song, that has similarities to The Black Crowes’ travelling songs; who also made many of their own. Sit back and enjoy the over 2 minutes of acoustic guitar pleasure; along with some wonderful keys and later, a little electric guitar added in, to top off the cake.
“Song of the Mother”, is probably my favorite song. It brought back so many memories of Procol Harum, that it had me involuntarily humming “Salty Dog”, when it ended. Especially after the sounds of the seagulls that conclude the song. Tim, even sounds a little like Gary Brooker, at times. The lyrics also kinda have that dead pan, darkness, that Procol Harum used effectively on so many songs. Tim sings, “I never meant to make you cry. Cross my heart and hope to die. But now we’re here, this wretched place. Where land evades all time and space. And now I lay thee down to sleep. No dreams to come, no counting sheep. You’ll soon depart this bivouac. And swim the silent seas of black. I’ve lost the fight, the will to carry on. Because I’m already gone. I never thought the trip would be so long. Because I’m already gone”. Like Gary, Tim, uses some of those old poems we used to say before going to sleep, when we were very young. You know, “now I lay thee down to sleep”. Thank you, Tim, for the trip back.
“Gone to the Dogs”, sounds like a late Pink Floyd song. Somewhere between “Dogs of War” and “Not Now John”. The melody and guitar playing sounds like many a Pink Floyd song you will remember from the catalog. Tim sings, “Through corridors with bloody floors comes a light from far away. Amidst the fog awaits a dog. Watching through the gray. I got nothin’ left to lose. I’m scared to see it through. There’s shadows floating all around this room. Insatiable these thirsty thoughts. The she loves me’s and she loves me nots. The last thing that I’d ever wanna see. I wish I will I wish I might. I wish I’d slip away tonight. All that was will never cease to be”.
“Credits Roll”, is sung by fellow Washingtones Records, CEO, Sam Chue. Sam also plays lead guitar on this one. Sam sings, “Tell me there’s another part. These credits tear apart my heart. They’re walking back to all their cars. This can’t be how it ends”. It almost sounds like a song that should have been on Sam’s solo album, Howling Brave – LYIAIK. But the heavy lead electric guitar fits well with the rest of the Pink Floyd guitar being played on this album.
“The Darkening’, opens slowly, with fuzz and lead electric guitar. A slow opening that took me back to the opening of the Yes’ classic, “Roundabout”. Tim opens with guitar and brings on the synths. This time, Tim’s vocals sound more like Roger Waters’. But the guitar still sounds like Gilmour. Tim sings, “The darkening. The clouds are swelling on the sea. Where the whitecaps roll and underneath abyss and cold. A creature there. Falling slowly through the deep. Awaits the gnashing jaws, the mandibles and scuttling claws. I never could surrender to the void. But comatose my struggles maladroit. I’ve made my peace. And now I’m finally free”.
An over 22-minute progressive rock epic, complete with the Dark Side of the Moon’s sounds of “Time” and “Brain Damage’s”, lunatics rhythms. John Swanke’s excellent journey through a synthesizer matrix, will absolutely thrill and amaze! Later, Phil Carter, lays out a drum performance that sounds like Ginger Baker has returned. The deep bass playing by, Clay Christofferson, would make Les Claypool’s ears perk up. The melody sounds a little like a great combination of Animals and Dark Side. I hear sounds of, I think, “Sheep”, then he just can’t help turn it into one of the greatest guitar riffs in rock n roll, “Money”. But, why not. Even Roger Waters just re-made Dark Side. Why not a different sound to these classics? I’m in. Well, then, they bring in a chorus of members, to sing a sorrow filled “Great Gig in the Sky” chorus. They close with more deep bass. It reminds me so much of what Blind Faith and others did, by integrating songs within long epic songs. Kinda like a “Do What You Like”, without the drum solo. They close…back at the emergency room…
Itself the Sea is an amazing, and yes, a profound album. It is full of memories of some of the best music you can remember hearing in your lifetime, played with a Northwest twist or interpretation. But this is not a cover band or cover sound. It is Tim and his collaborators’ innovations on themes from the classics. Standing on the shoulders of your peers. A wonderful progressive rock epic album that will be on my list of albums to remember when awards are handed out at the end of the year.
Track List:
1: Triage 1:26
2: Must Be a Dream 7:09
3: The Orphan 9:58
4: Song of the Mother 13:58
5: Gone to the Dogs 18:05
6: Credits Roll 22:00
7: The Darkening
Itself the Sea was mixed and mastered by Tim Mechling. All songs written by Tim Mechling. “The Darkening” written by Tim Mechling & Clay Christofferson. Recorded by Stone Jones, Sam Chue, Hannah Wyatt and Tim Mechling.
Website and Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/tim.mechling
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1u4ZaaNsqbTMljUyO0cfvY?si=fJgCGz_fQd6kALYSs3TQFg
Bandcamp: https://timmechling.bandcamp.com/album/the-vandal-hands-of-man
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim_mechling/
Merch: https://beeb9e-2.myshopify.com/search?q=tim+mechling&options%5Bprefix%5D=last
Music Videos and You Tube:
“Hark” – “The Lighthouse” Movie, excerpt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrekMzfC7Gw
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDsuT1Rj8Xz4ByZRzaumdmg