Critical Element

ROCK: CRITICAL ELEMENT

Believe Us (Independent)

"The band mixes up its rock with huge elements of reggae ("Test Me"), ska ("Sun's Shining") and hip hop ("When You're Fallen") . Throw in some imagination and intelligence and you have an above average local indie release. It's a rootsy album in which the guitar playing is incisive and creative without calling attention to itself (check out the quasi surf sound of "Instrumental") and the drumming stands out throughout while vocalist Dustin Overhill sings with a chameleon's versatility, if occasionally he sounds affected."


-- T.H. (Tom Harrison)

- The Province

Live music came back into my life as a result of the Jason Mitchell project. When I was younger I used to hang out with bands but, as John Lennon said: "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." I'll never forget the first time I visited the Turtle Recording Studio: the brick walls and thick curtains; the 24 track master board; tapes turning; the thrill of being part of music and songs being captured for the first time; the intensity and focus in the room as songs are being heard for the first time. "Is it the best it can be?" "What about this? "How about that?" How wonderful to be part of this experience as I was on Jason's CD "Little Coma" And how amazing that when the universe gave me this incredible new life on the beach that I should also just happen to be next door to Turtle Recording Studio. Larry and I have become good friends over the years and from time to tim he'll invite me to drop by, particularly if there's a band he knows I'll enjoy. So he did last week. He told me the band Critical Element was recording an album over the next few days and I could drop by and hang out and visit if I'd like. So I did. Critical Element will be one of the bands playing at the Turtle 20th anniversary and you better make sure there's room for people to groove. You won't be sitting in your seats with this band. Powerful lyrics, amazingly changing tempos 4 or 5 times in a song, big hooks that capture the message both lyrically and musically, picking you up and setting you down just to pick you right up again, great fun, happy music reminiscent of Bob Marley, Jack Johnson, Daniel Wesley all rolled into one. I'm getting ahead of myself though. When I first met the band I asked them: "How would you describe your music?" "Rock, Blues, Reggae, and Hip Hop all rolled into one." I was told. "Really" I said. "Tell me more." The story of these talented youngsters coming together each with a special something that fits perfectly together to create an original sound is an interesting story. Dizzy Overhill is a "Battle Rapper" and, in addition to competing as one, has a solid grounding in music and started playing piano at 10 years old. Colin McMath on bass started playing piano at 4 years old and also plays many other instruments in addition to being an artist and having a scientific bent to him as well. His dad, Dr. Tom, is a teacher at Kwantlen and he and Colin's mom Sharon who was inspired to start playing piano when Colin did, have always been very supportive. Sean Simpson on lead guitar picked up a guitar at 15 years old and was hooked, playing anywhere, anytime, with anyone. "Does anyone want to play?" he would ask. Sean met their drummer Brani Shibile when Sean was working at a studio where the drummer was also a great singer and left suddenly. The engineer was from Bulgaria and knew a drummer from there arriving next week. Brani turned out to be much like Sean, passionate about playing and had been playing 12 to 13 hours a day back home. "Brani showed up and jammed and I'd never played with anyone like that before." Sean told me. "We've been playing together ever since." Sean was in a band going nowhere and decided he was "gone" and was going to just write songs and let it happen. A friend brought Dizzy out to a jam and "this rapper who had never sang before found himself, and not just himself, something special, a synergy, an energy, a coming together." One piece missing, a bass player. Dizzy, who had previously recorded some rap songs with Colin, mentioned in casual conversation one day that they were looking for a bass player. "I play bass!" said Colin. And the rest as they say, is history. "That's a great story." I said. "Let's go hear some songs." Into the control room we went. Rats! I should have brought my camera. There they were. Sitting on the stools with brick and curtain behind them. Nervous anticipation. Wondering what I'll think. It might have turned out to be a famous picture. These guys are that good. First song: "Sun Shining" Well. It didn't take long to get me out of my seat. Very "pop" but so much more: Great beat. Big hook. Bob Marley "ish" lyrics that make you forget your troubles. Happy music that makes you move. Amazing tempo changes. When I asked how I should describe them, "different flavors" seemed to be the most popular choice. The word that came to mind to me was: "FUN!" Followed by "Gone", a ballad about addiction. Words that flow, a message to be delivered, a chorus to hook you and a changing beat to keep you grooving and guessing, this band has something truly special. They have brought the "critical elements" together and created a sound and the tunes that could take them a long way. - Doug E. Lachance