Music is made of many parts, all different and varied, that come together in a Masala of Sound to make up the whole of a song or a tune. I kind of liken Music and the Creation of Music to cooking; youÕre adding different ingredients, mixing things around, tasting and liking or disliking then starting over from scratch or creating something entirely new from something that does not work well and ending with a final product that can satisfy your palate and taste. There is great care needed in this, as the Science of Creation, whether it is cooking or music is what makes things Tasty.

So, with the Cooking Analogies in mind, I ask you this. What do you get when you take one part Bassist who likes Indian food, one part Drummer who likes Japanese and one part Guitarist who likes Health Food? A really smoking-hot meal fresh out of the Aural Crock Pot with The Faith In Phantoms self-titled Debut CD, ÒFaith In Phantoms.Ó I will even serve you this Very Special Morsel of Music on a Silver Platter of Words for you to enjoy, with a warm, lemon scented napkin so you can refresh your tired soul! Bon Appetit!

Faith in Phantoms has been raging in the rock and roll scene in Marin County since 2008, though the members of Faith In Phantoms have known each other and played in various incarnations since 2004. L.A. transplant Dean Moore (bass and vocals) and Marin Babies Alex Lasner (Guitar) and Andrew Keating (Drums/Percussion) came together in a fit of inspiration and connection to form Faith in Phantoms, and the rest, I say, is the future.

Their Debut CD ÒFaith In PhantomsÓ (which celebrates its release on Friday, November 13th at 19 Broadway in Fairfax, CA.) seems to cover the gamut of Pop, Roots Rock and Americana with a kick ass edge. Spanning well over a year and a half in and out of the studio, the recording of the CD was both a joy and a lesson of hardships and experiences. With the entire project self-funded and self produced, Faith in Phantoms learned a lot about doing things their own way and what works and what doesnÕt in the land of Music Production.

Says Electric Guitar Wizard Alex Lasner, ÒI think the biggest problem was that we were producing ourselves in our own studio, so we didn't have anyone to tell us to move on when something was good enough. We probably spent way too much time on little production touches/details...but that was also part of the fun.Ó

Adds Dean Moore, Faith In Phantoms bassist and lead vocalist of his experience, ÒA highlight for me was just realizing for the first time that I might be able to pull off the lead singer thing. I'd always been the bass/harmony vocals guy, that was my niche...but I'd always hoped that maybe one day I'd get a chance to try being a front man. I think when the vocals for "Frost Flowers," which leads off the album, came together the way they did, I was pretty stoked.Ó

Most of the CD recording went down at StickFigure Studios in Novato, where drummer Andrew Keating recorded, mixed and produced the album with the help of the whole band as well as some tracks with Producer David Simon-Baker at Mission Bells Studio (who recently finished up the local faveÕs The Hold Outs' new CD, ÒThe Hold Outs) and ExÕpressions Center in Emeryville . Andrew Keating says poetically, ÒWe would sometimes find ourselves very far down the rabbit hole! Parts of that hole I'd consider both highlights and lowlights of the project. Great things can happen down at the end of the rabbit hole, but it is not always the healthiest method of finishing a project like this. However... after seeing and hearing the ends, doesn't matter... the means are justified.Ó

ÒFaith In PhantomsÓ packs a punch from the get-go with Alex LasnerÕs crunchy, soaring guitar so prevalent throughout all the 10 tracks on the CD. ÒFrost FlowersÓ opens the festivities with ass-kicking shred-ness from the first opening chords, through moody tempo changes and Dean MooreÕs powerful vocals. ÒTake AdvantageÓ takes my breath away and I fell deeply in love with it as a piece of Sound Art. I love the opening bass and guitar lines and Dean MooreÕs breathy vocals serenading me with such exquisite lines as Òkeep breathing, donÕt let this life arrest your soulÓ. Andrew KeatingÕs Mad Man Drumming keeps the heart of ÒTake AdvantageÓ thrashing. The song is jammed packed with catchy hooks within the chorus that have stayed in my head constantly and have forced me to sing or hum in public.

The album has many flavors speckling the Tastes Buds of your Ears, from slinky and sexy (ÒWhatever You WantÓ), to 60Õs infused Folk (ÒLonger Days Than NightsÓ), to Pop (ÒTried To Tell HerÓ) and Rocking (ÒI CanÕt Quit You BabyÓ, ÒOne Link In The ChainÓ and ÒAfter The FallÓ). With the help of musical friends such as Matt Montgomery (Keyboards), David Simon-Baker (Vocals & Keyboards) and Jean-Michel HurŽ (Keyboards), the project was the creation of many amazing people.

Says Alex Lasner, ÒThere were a lot of times when it seemed like the album would never be completed. We ended up working on it (with lots of stops and starts) for the better part of a year and a half. I feel like the album really highlights everyone's strengths, and I think the songs ended up being really strongÓ

When the meal is cooked, the dishes cleared away and you sit, satiated and fulfilled by what you have just consumed, you realize the joyous feeling within yourself.

At the Dinner Party in My Mind, Dean Moore wipes a few morsels from his mouth and stands with a glass of wine. He lifts his glass and states, ÒIt took a couple weeks of perspective but I think it's just now setting in for us that we have a pretty great record on our hands. There's always something you feel like you could have done better, and I feel like my better vocal performances are still ahead of me, but overall it's the very best record that we could have made at this point. Andrew's playing awesome, interesting parts that serve the song, Alex shreds when it's called for and turns in some incredibly tasty and tasteful performances when those are called for, and the songs are chock full of hooks -- in fact, there might be too many hooks, we're realizing. But that's a nice problem to have.Ó

Cheers and Mozoltov, Boys! I raise my glass to you as well!

FAITH IN PHANTOM links:

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