I Saw The Deep

I Saw The Deep play great psych blend of Sludge, Stoner, and Prog-Rock all in one very trippy package. This is one heck of a wild ride. And it’s all the work of one crazed individual who used to be the bass player for brilliant South American Sludge Rockers Cultura Tres who are finally getting their time in the international spotlight

Anyway – I Saw The Deep are heavily influenced by Mastodon, TOOL, Baroness and The Mars Volta amongst others. Well these influences shine through on their brilliant and astonishing debut album - “Astronavigation”. This is a 12 song 60 minute thrill ride which takes you to the vortex of space and beyond.

Imagine if all those brilliant bands started jamming together or release an album as a supergroup. Well Astronavigation would be the crazed result. This is jaw-dropping stuff.

It has more psychedelic riffs you can throw a lightsaber at. This is seriously a brilliant wild ride I urge you all to take. It’s hard to believe this is the work of one individual as it feels like a proper group.

The album is superbly produced and you can hear every crazy psych riff to perfection. Part Psych-Rock, Part Sludge, Part Stoner, Part Prog-Rock but when you add all these together you get something 100% special.

This album is a pure joy of riffs you will not have heard in a very long time. This is the perfect soundtrack to your fave Space Sci-Fi movie.

The album is full of brilliant tracks that you will be listening to over and over again. Especially tracks “Astronavigation”, “Time, The Tyrant”, “Map Of Piri Re’is”.

Even the album cover is brilliantly insane and shows you what to expect on this amazing album.

I have gone on long enough about this superb album. So if you want to go on a wild space ride going through the worlds of Stoner, Sludge, Prog and even Post-Metal then get downloading this brilliant album now.

As you can get it from BandCamp Pay Anything You Want Type Deal. I urge you all to do this now as this is going to be the next big thing on the blogs.

Brilliant and Highly Recommended. - The Sludgelord (UK)

“…if you can hear in your mind something that mixes the heavy riffs of Mastodon, the trance-inducing vocals of Alice in Chains, the mysticism of The Tea Party and the psychedelic sensibilities of early Pink Floyd, you might be on the right track for describing I Saw the Deep. All of that combined in a tight sounding package that does not meander around aimlessly makes for a singularly entertaining listen for this reviewer.” - Rock Music Critic (US)

One man, one mission and one hell of a disc. The solo project of the of Aruban originating Darrel Lacle is distinct. Heavy rock singer / songwriter Darrell does everything alone. He is a multi-instrumentalist who is inspired by the mysticism and the dark side of the ocean. His music shows influences from bands like The Mars Volta, Led Zeppelin and Mastodon.

The list of gigs I Saw The Deep is striking, no shows on the horizon, but several showcases in Aruba, Canada and the United Kingdom. Netherlands seems almost passed in the past. There will probably change now that a new album is called Astronavigation. The first song of this album starts with convincing filthy sounds and soon an unprecedented composition with original time measure-shifts. The first three songs, Phantom Island, Astro Navigation and Time, The Tyrant, set the tone with strong riffs and convincing compositions. The songs break open at the right time and smooth guitar work keeps your undivided attention. Well count is a good rule enforced in the band and there is clearly focus on the small-effects and atmospheres which give the music more meaning.

"Djinn" with almost enchanting Arabic influences that seamlessly blend into the raw sound of I Saw The Deep. The seven-four time listens here sweet and the song has an interesting percussion party. The vibe of the following tracks, and Oneironaut Secret Of The Blue, both feel heavy and are surprisingly surpassed by one of the stronger songs that the band has to offer: He Who Saw The Deep. Wow, what a sound and composition! Many metal fans will get satisfaction from this song. It's really headbanging material. The dynamics are well distributed and makes the song come to life. Again, Darrel has here a good sense of rhythm. Remarkable is Map Of Piri Re'is, a six-minute instrumental song, followed by the extraordinary closer: Saturniid is exactly what it says, strange and not of this planet. My opinion of the album: heavy, deep and rancid in a good way. In other words, a very nice and good listening album!

The band is well on its way and this album shows that they are of a high musical level. The guitar sound could be something bigger and brighter produced. The vocals here and there can use a bit more dynamism. Darrel has a beautiful timbre that can flourish. Throw such occasional scream for something with rawer intensity. I look forward to see Darrel (and co.) on the Dutch stages. If it's live just as convincing as on the record, I see a bright future for I Saw The Deep.

Sp. 86 / Martyn R. - Speaker Magazine (NL)

I Saw The Deep take us on a journey with their debut opus Astronavigation which they hope we won't soon forget. 'They' isn't really the right pronoun though as Darrell Laclé did all the work, including production and artwork. There is a lot to take in and the first door to the universe of this band is showed through the wicked cover of the album: it is as intricate and colourful as the music.

First and foremost, I Saw The Deep display a very good quality: the ability to tell stories with their songs. This isn't some random album and you can tell that there was some thought put into the final product and package.

The music of I Saw The Deep is difficult to define, which speaks of its quality. Here we have a multi-dimensional record and the potion is made out of a good measure of stoner, psychedelic rock, often trippy and groovy, and a little spice of prog. Mastodon and the quirkiness of The Mars Volta come to mind, but that doesn't do justice to the density of the album. Despite this mixture, the album is not schizophrenic. Instead, it is well-balanced and fairly accessible, especially in terms of vocal lines like in the acid "Astronavigation" and the pop/rock sensibility of "Scarlet Skies".

(link for full review)
- Metal Storm (International)

"Fat riffs and a really good production for a self-made album. "Astronavigation" comes with a big spectrum of music styles...you have a lot of metal parts with progressive wings, deep and swampy doom parts mixed with a bit stoner. The nice ballads from master chief Darrell and the spooky parts makes the sound complete. "Map Of Piri Re'is, Of Death And Dying, Oneironaut and Astronavigation" are my favourite songs on this mighty album, enjoy it...because its good for you!" - Stonerhead Let Groove Your Brains Tonight (AT)

"This is some pretty good sh*t. A bit trippy at times but heavy as f*ck throughout." - A Distant Rumble (US)

I Saw The Deep at The Hide Out, Toronto. Indie Week 2011 Launch Party (live review).

"I Saw The Deep didn’t play a set, he gave a psychedelic experience. Multi-instrumentalist Darrell LaClé, presented a heavy, yet stripped down atmospheric one man show" - Heada (CA)

“I Saw The Deep keeps it real by effectively bearing a homage to 90's/earl 2000's prog acts like The Mars Volta and Tool without adhering to the mythic Clear Channel Checklist a band must embody to receive radio play in North America. Some parts even spark a fleeting nod to Led Zeppelin.” - Orlandooom (US)

(Translated from Dutch):

"Nice fat spacey convincingly brought stoner-rock.
The music is rigged with all sorts of breaks, roaring riffs and grooves that keep alternating. It is in yr-face but delivers at the same time something fresh.
I Saw The Deep is obviously a band that knows what they want and bring this in their own wayward ways into effect." - Popunie (NL)

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

MER: How did you come up with the band name?

Darrell: Growing up on a tiny island in the Caribbean, the ocean and its mysticism was a main source of inspiration. This, combined with the interest in ancient mythology, a healthy dose of Sci-fi literature, all led to “I Saw The Deep”. It stands for delving into the deeper layers of the psyche.


MER: What are 3 bands that you feel were most influential to your band, and why?

Darrell: There’s many and the list is constantly changing but at the core this would be Led Zeppelin. This is perhaps not directly heard back in the music, but the fact that they transcend any scene or genre bounding limitations is the most inspiring. As a matter of fact most of my Rock influences are pretty much either a unique sort of continuation or/and heavier evolution of what they did. For example the likes of The Sword and Mastodon.



MER: What are the 5 best Metal/Hard Rock albums of all times, and why?

Darrell: Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti

Metallica - Master of Puppets

The Tea Party - The Edges Of Twilight

Mastodon - Crack The Skye

Tool - Aenema

Each brings a pioneering element of either the occult, mysticism or genre expanding influences to the table. Except Master of Puppets which is just simply bad ass yet still groundbreaking!


MER: What is the best concert you’ve ever attended, and why?

Darrell: Tool with Mastodon as a opening act. It lifted my senses to another dimension.


MER: What was the most memorable gig your band ever played, and why?

Darrell: In this phase this is still a solo project that yet has to manifest itself live as a full band. But playing Indie Week Toronto last year, presenting this material in its most stripped down acoustic solo version, was a intense yet rewarding experience. When your songs can stand on its own like that, pretty much anything else becomes possible!


MER: What is the craziest thing any member of your band has ever done for the sake of Metal/Hard Rock?

Darrell: Well me being the only permanent member so far, I've been called many a times a lunatic for giving pretty much anything else up in order to serve Rock 'n Roll, either being on the road without a dime or investing it all in your art. I can tell you all the beer drinking stories but well I think this a more important hard truth every independent rock musician out there might agree on.


MER: If your band was appointed Rulers of the Metal World, what is the first law you’d make?

Darrell: Hahaha... To ban all the Idols programs and the Gagas out there! But then again, been an outcast of society has kept metal special so far right! It's something you either love to death or hate. So lets keep it underground and loud...


MER: If you could tour with any band, who would that be, and why?

Darrell: Any of those aforementioned influences will pretty much do, because these guys are top class and one of a kind..


MER: What do you think your fans and the music industry will say about your band in 10 years?

Darrell: Good one. This journey has just begun so I have no idea. Best thing could happen is if this band could still inspire generations to come, old and new alike, my goal is to make timeless music, so that's why you won't see I Saw The Deep jumping on a bandwagon anytime soon. As far as the music industry is concerned, it's al moving so fast I think we might have to redefine that term soon, so there no way of telling really.


MER: If you could have any wish fulfilled for the band, what would it be?

Darrell: To play all the continents, all the corners of this planet, spreading the music all around, leaving no rock unturned.... - Metal Express Radio (Oslo, NO)

Who’s I Saw The Deep?

I saw the deep is essentially me, Darrell Laclé, a multi-instrumentalist representing what initially started as a heavy solo studio project. The band is recently manifesting itself live as a power trio by recruiting a couple of talented musicians. Hopefully this will grow into a steady line up for future studio/live efforts as a group. I also do stripped down atmospheric acoustic solo shows of the same material.



How you got started in the music?

Well I started playing the bass and later the guitar at the age of 11 or so, and have played in several bands and projects ever since. In 2009, after the demise of my previous heavy rock band I decided to overhaul my whole musical life completely and start a new journey. This time I decided to do things in a very tenacious way, and doing it on my own, I had the liberty not to follow any ongoing trends or specific genre. Just making the heavy dark music I’d like to hear myself.



What’s the story behind your artist name?

Growing up on a small island in the Caribbean, I was always drawn to the sea and all the mysticism that surrounds it. So if you translate that into a broader metaphorical concept, you get “I saw the deep”, which stands for exploring the great unknown, wether it’s the ocean, space, time, the human psyche or whatnot…



How would you describe your music?

Heavy dark music. I don’t like the pigeon hole it into a particular genre, I’d rather let the listeners decide, they will give it a name according to their individual or collective interpretation. Personally, I’d like to think of it as power rock drumming with swampy bass lines, along with borderline metal riffing topped with grungy vocals and fuzzy solos. Then imagine all of this swirling in a big pool of mysticism and psychedelia.



What would you say is your key track?

Very difficult, that’d be like choosing a favorite child! I’ll put it this way: As an artist, I’m ever evolving, even in the span of one record. So very roughly calculated, in terms of evolution, “Phantom Island” would be the departure station and “Scarlet Skies” would be the next arrival point. But there are many stops ahead on this ride…



Astronavigation. How was the recording and writing process for this album? How you came out with the title?

The writing process started as a kind of private inspirational inner travel, some two years before the release. After a while I decided I really wanted to mold it into a legit project and began choosing my best demos to put on tape as a definite production. This all happened independently in my own home studio/ work station in the Netherlands which I’ve dubbed “The Arc Studios”, since I was always on the move. I also received some excellent help from good friends, recording engineers. Namely Bryan Montero who was very courteous and invited me to record some additional tracks at his studio (Skye Recordings) while I was doing a small solo tour on my home island Aruba. I did all the production and recorded all the instruments myself. As an independent artist you have to sometimes improvise in order to achieve a quality product without the support of a large industry machine behind you. I experienced a couple of setbacks, but these made me emerge stronger at the end. So after all this was a very rewarding experience from which I’ve learned a lot, at an almost exponential rate.

The title “Astronavigation” came to mind from the very beginning and it stuck ever since. It seemed fitting to describe the search and exploratory concept that runs throughout the songs. It’s all about being disoriented and trying to find your way out through the labyrinthine maze of the mind.



Phantom Island. How was making this music video?

I’m very much into sci-fi novels, arts animation and comics so I really wanted the first video to be an animation. This came in handy because I was the only band member at a time so it made no sense to make a clip in whic - Vents Magazine (DO)