Neptune - Patterns...

I imagine there are very few bands that can include in their biography that they were originally formed as the result of a sculpture project. However, that’s where the origins of Neptune lie. Originally the art project of art sculptor/musician Jason Sanford, who had taken various items of scrap metal, bike parts, car parts, and really anything else you can come up with and created instruments from such items. We’re not talking complimentary instruments; they built their guitars, drums, and whatever else from these things. A group was collected together to showcase these instruments and somewhere in the mix it turned into a fully active band, which has now released a number of limited cassette/CD-R releases and four full-length albums.

Their latest full length Patterns is what caught my attention, even more so once I realized the sound/noise blaring from my speakers was not being made from conventional instruments. The music displayed on Patterns isn’t actually as noisy or chaotic as something like this might lead one to believe. That would be too easy. Rather, Neptune is just as particularly intricate with their music as they are in building their instruments. They combine sudden bursts of distortion with an assortment of electronics that feature a countless number of switches and knobs crafted by bassist (along with many other things I’m sure) Mark Pearson. While the band may surround itself in what looks like to be a mess of visual weaponry, they have instead produced a welcome blend of coherent noise rock.

Neptune – The Lighthouse [MP3]
Neptune – Fourteen Pleasures [MP3]

Although the band mostly carefully plans releases like Patterns out, they do a number of limited run releases that are fully improvisational. To pick up their newest album Patterns and some of their past releases as well, head on over to their website. You can also find some more items over at Mister Records.