Six Parts Seven: Casually Smashed To PiecesSix Parts Seven: Casually Smashed To Pieces
I discovered Six Parts Seven at The Fest II here in Gainesville, FL. It was at the old Common Grounds -- a tiny, smokey and intimate little venue where you could watch your favorite bands rock out while you sat in their lap. Up to that point I hadn't listened to much instrumental music, so I didn't know what to expect when Six Parts Seven came on stage. They played one song and just as I was falling in love, a string broke (or maybe it was a drum head). They apologized and said they couldn't continue playing. One song is all I got! But I was so enthralled I went outside to their van and bought Things Shaped In Passing. To this day that album is still one of my favorite instrumental ambient albums to fall asleep to.
Fast forward four years and here they are releasing their sixth full length, Casually Smashed To Pieces. Over these albums, their music does not waver much. They don't seem to experiment much, for better or worse. They make soft, beautiful, layered melodies -- and they do it really well. Each album blends into the next, and at just over 30 minutes this album breezes by. My favorite track on this album is the 7-minute-long "Confusing Possibilities," which has this great swirling melody that builds up and flurries around the 4:30 mark before bringing things back down.
This is something to put on while you are relaxing at night. Let their music in and let the day's worries out. Because all their music has that same cooling vibe I can recommend three of their best albums -- the newest Casually Smashed To Pieces, 2004's Everywhere And Right Here, and 2002's Things Shaped In Passing -- equally as five-star perfection, but collectively their library does get repetitive.
The first two songs are off of their latest and the second two are oldies but goodies. Also check out their page on Suicide Squeeze for a few more mp3s.
I remember that show as well: the cramped stage, pushing up clost to the low ceiling; the space itself packed beyond capacity, so much so that it was nearly impossible to re-enter through the front door. We actually played two, full songs, then half-way in the third, our a power surge caused the fuse in our bass amp to blow, and that was it: I always like to play short sets, leave people wanting more, I suppose this minor casualty suited our style fairly well . . .