I decided to write and record a song each week for the first 10 weeks of this past year (2008) as an experiment. go check it out at my web site and read what the limitations are if you are interested. The songs are below.
Tate Eskew carefully orchestrates layers of swirling guitar, thunderous drums and haunting melody with explosive bursts of noise and disorder, forming an indie rock style distinctly his own. A self-proclaimed studio rat, Eskew labors endlessly in his own studio creating music that evokes such descriptions as “liquid flowing through a chaotic mess of lines” and “raw, with otherworldly sounds and atmospherics.” Complex declarations for complex music.
Eskew has spent years obsessing and experimenting in the studio, programming computer software and playing guitar, so it is no surprise that his music is constructed of stacked sonic building blocks–at times recalling the sounds of My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth and Seam. With his roots in Illinois, it’s also evident that Eskew is influenced by sounds of the Midwest, as bands such as HUM, The Promise Ring and LOW show at times. Through his singular style and studio proficiency, Eskew melds old and new musical influences into his own exceptional sound.
Eskew’s debut album, entitled Semiotics, is a work of astonishing expression and ingenuity. Intricate arrangements of guitars, distorted organ and drums frame Eskew’s intimate vocals, moving from delicate finger-picked notes to breathtaking rock crescendos, and back again. Truth and metaphor permeate the album both lyrically and musically, reminiscent of mid-era Pink Floyd, as Eskew explores situations and signs of one’s past, present and future. Songs from Eskew’s collection often start in a traditional directive but soon turn unexpected corners, later blooming into a wash of melody and noise. Throughout every track, Eskew’s obsession with refined composition and studio experimentation shows.
Watch for Semiotics, coming in 2009 on progressive indie collective Functional Equivalent Recordings.
