AVE Caesar

REVIEWS ____________________________________________________________ __ AVE CAESAR: December 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------ - Holding tight to the mainstay that patience is a virtue, the young musicians behind Santa Barbara’s Ave Caesar have crafted an exquisite 11-track debut that truly necessitates a close listen. Combining dissonant vocals with thoughtful, meandering chord progressions and climactic builds that are as ambient as they are hard-hitting, the four-piece has conceived a sound the likes of which Santa Barbara hasn’t heard of late. Tracks like “Fahren” begin as jazzy, melodic grooves, but climb slowly toward hard-hitting rock-outs. Lead vocalist/guitarist Chris Lynch succeeds in penning lyrics that express raw emotion without overpowering Ave’s collective musical might. While eloquent piano compositions drive songs like “Distant Laughter” and “The Universal Rehearsal,” prog-y guitar-and-pedal work take center stage on cuts like “The New Industry.” Eerie and melodic, intelligent and aggressive, Ancient Voices Echo promises a bright future for a young band–and a breath of fresh, forward-thinking air for our music scene. – Aly Comingore http://www.independent.com/news/2007/dec/07/ave-caesar/ ************************************************************ *************************** HAIL CAESAR: February 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------ --- Typically, instrumental music is one of two things: pretentious and even stifling, or powerful and stirring. Luckily for us, the Santa Barbara-based band Ave Caesar can easily be categorized as the latter. The four-piece ensemble—keys, guitar, bass, and drums—create a sound that is transcendent without being preachy, conjuring recollections of an underdeveloped Sigur Rós (sans the quasi-Icelandic language). Perhaps melodramatically, the group claims “to have resurrected the melodies of an age when only sunlight and fire lit the dark places of the Earth” and deplores the rampant consumerism of American culture. Nonetheless, the group’s moving instrumental arrangements and ethereal (albeit minimal) vocals are a unique and welcome addition to the local music scene. Ave Caesar will take the stage at Goleta’s Mercury Lounge (5871 Hollister Ave.) tonight, Thursday, February 7, at 9 p.m., as part of the venue’s newly added Live Music Thursday series. Call 967-0907 or visit myspace.com/mercurylounge for more details. —Joel Aurora http://www.independent.com/news/2008/feb/07/music-lovers/*** ************************************************************ ************************ A FEW WORDS... AVE Caesar is a four-piece sound ensemble that was born in a garage close to the Pacific Ocean, where the moist air snaps with electric inspiration. Whilst deep in self-induced Delphic serpent trances, like those of an ancient oracle, the members of AVE Caesar work tirelessly to resurrect melodies of an age when only sunlight and fire lit the dark places of the Earth. In this realm are they able to hear the echoing voices of ancient sages—the reincarnate spirit of lost tones. Through spiraling overtures the group ignites an inner melodious spark of transcendence and true consciousness. The followers of AVE observe the vast wasteland of mental slavery that exists within the "Pax Americana". The quartet asks that all souls enable their individual expressions in preparation for the artistic severance of the fore-mentioned restraints. The opening of eyes is long overdue—the existence of an American Empire of Global Consumerism must be recognized. Subversion appears renaissance… Smoke signals have been raised like great columns in the distance and the mystics of the digital age are gathering in numbers. As children who have for too long been made drunk by its milk, the followers of AVE have returned to the stagnant well in search of a new drink; in search of recipes and musical potions with which to deconstruct and set free the tired American soul. ************************************************************ ************ (www.strikefile.com/myspace)