In this sweaty Seattle summer of 2005, a group of young college students shed the lazy indolence of their peers to record their self-titled debut EP, The Aural Sect. Highlighted by a dual guitar assault and complemented by slap bass lines and original jazz-rock grooves, the EP showcases the honest vocal styling of singer/bassist Reid Strange: "Music has been, for as long as I can remember, my most powerful method of expressing myself, and this band shares my vision."
Jesse Jensen, guitarist and synthesist for the group, produced and engineered the effort in his basement, lending a distinctly authentic garage feel to the sound - one that was deliberately pursued: "I wanted the group's sound to be more immediate and raw than a lot of the self-produced stuff I hear. I wanted to record this in my basement so that we would have the freedom to sculpt the exact soundscape we wanted to produce - even if it was 'just' a garage band."
Joshua Harvey plays guitar and, when required, embellishes the songs with touches of piano. "Some of the songs fit just right with two guitars - Jesse and I trade off on lead - but some of them I felt more inspired to smack a piano." Steve Ibsen accents the group through his powerful percussion, though he has been playing guitar since childhood: “To be able to participate in a new alternative sound and to provide an original beat to the songs helps me get a true groove to music.â€
Born of the want-ads on Craigslist.org, these four musicians have formed a tight musical cohesion in just a few months. While they love working in the studio, the band is greatly inspired by the legendary live acts of such groups as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, and Led Zeppelin. "If I catch anyone standing still while we're playing, I make a point to go over and hit them," says Jesse Jensen. These shenanigans make for an exciting and dynamic experience to watch.
