Valter-
Spaces of Extraordinary Size
Engineered by Brian Scheurman
Produced by Paul Pitkan
Ahh. The wonders of independent music. Artists now have the ability to enjoy total control over their music and how it’s distributed to fans. The explosion of new unsigned music is a testament to this. Artists who were rejected by bigger, established, major labels are now even more abundant. The artists are creating a market place and a voice for their music without bloated marketing budgets that the majors seemed to embrace as the lexicon of a “successful artist.” Audiences became bored to tears with major labels literally serving them stale, repackaged “popular” music. Established artists grew tired of hiring people to tell them how to relate to their own fans. Instead, the artist just decided to ask them directly. Super-cyber group, Radiohead enjoys even more success by establishing a direct link between them and their audience. Now it’s major labels that need a lifeboat to keep themselves and their shareholders afloat. Ha! Haw!
Seattle’s Valter has packaged the dreamy, melodic, strummy, 90’s-shoe gaze, with ethereal emotionally charged vocals. The opening title track, “Spaces of Extraordinary Size” is an engaging, powerful, number that’s extremely catchy. Paul Pitkin’s choir boy-vocals echo inspiration of Swervedriver’s Adam Franklin when the song reaches the hypnotic chorus. The rich production and abundant vocal harmonies, that close the song, are what make it so infectious. The CD ‘s second track entlitled “Sometimes” could easily be installed on a movie soundtrack. “Sometimes” at times, sounds a bit similar to a Coldplay out-take, although there is some variation. Pitkin stays busy on this album, credited with arranging, producing and playing most of instruments. This D.Y.I. influence is the craft that made 90’s music so infinite and influential. He’s clearly a student of that era. Obi Wan has taught him well.
The folksy “One Hears the Answer” leans heavily on being monotonous. This number could have benefited if drummer, Steve Wiebe had joined in. It seems like Valter wants to stitch together 90’s college rock with the formulaic barriers of today’s current pop music on this track. Valter should avoid heavy acoustic numbers like these and just turn up the amps. Thankfully, the bass driven, “The Moment Hasn’t Happened Yet” picks up the tempo and re-energizes listener. The song’s filled with airtight toe-gaze wooziness that’s a perfect match for Pitkin’s airy vocals. I don’t want to reveal too much of the CD because I’d like to give you a chance to listen to Valter on your own.
I really like this CD. It’s captivating because it’s not overt and manic. It’s packed with washy, melodic guitars and daydream-like lyrics. This album will generate a devoted fan base who enjoy the 90’s sound. Now that alternative indie rock seems to have become pop music’s dominant idiom, Valter will be hovering high on it’s radar.
-Antoine Perkins