50FootWave are comprised of Kristin Hersh and Bernard Georges of Throwing Muses, and monster drummer Rob Ahlers. This LA-based power trio is known for pioneering the name-your-own-price movement, which began with their 2005 release “Free Music”.
Named after the lowest note audible to human ears, 50FOOTWAVE was intended as an outlet for the noise/math rock pieces that didn’t fit the aesthetic of Throwing Muses or Kristin Hersh’s solo work.
Their most successful and influential release, 2009’s Power + Light, is thirty minutes of non-stop music, a barrage of free-form sound that found the band challenging its own complex song structure. Drowned in Sound says 50FOOTWAVE is “neither self-indulgent nor like many tracks cobbled together, but bruisingly visceral”.
50FOOTWAVE’s early releases are available for download free of charge here and licensed for sharing via Creative Commons. In this relation, Kristin co-founded the non-profit Coalition of Artists and Stake-Holders (CASH Music) in 2007. Over the past few years, CASH has not only completely funded Kristin’s own output, but has also powered dozens of other artist and label projects and has grown into a widely-recognized powerhouse of technical tools that enable commerce, communication and sustainability for artists.
This is a superb EP, the guitar playing is excellent with great variation in riffs and chords with excellent variation in tone too. The songs are propelled by solid drumming and bass and the vocals are excellent too with a dreamy feel at times and a more intense feel at others.
Bath White
Great riff and vocals to open, there’s just a hint of distortion on the guitar which creates an excellent groove. The bass and drumming propel the song along and there are some excellent changes in feel between uptempo and more laid back with great build and release of tension.
God’s Not A Dick
Another excellent opening riff which has quite a funky feel at times. The vocals are excellent again, a great intensity. I love the change in feel of the song which creates a great contrast.
Human
There’s a tension to the opening riff which leads into a more uptempo section. The tension builds through the song releasing back to the opening riff. The bass and drumming is solid giving an excellent momentum.
Ratted Out
Subtle phaser effect on the opening guitar riff, it’s slightly distorted giving a great sound. Solid bass and drumming and the vocals are excellent again too. There’s some excellent layered synth / guitars which gives a really big sound at times.
St. Christopher
An excellent opening riff again which creates a really good tension. I really like the change of feel to the uptempo parts and how they contrast with the more mellow sections in between.
Sun Salute
An uptempo opening riff and vocals to open, the song has a great energy leading into a more chilled part and there’s a great contrast between these parts of the songs.
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