ripple green - the ease

Ripple Green

The Ease
self-released; 2013

3.7 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Ripple Green is a band that formed in 2003 when the members were 10 years old! I didn't know how to do much more besides playing with my toys when I was that age let alone play instruments. Now that it’s 2014 the band is still together making the band members in their early 20’s. The band has toured through the Midwest and has played at SXSW, NMF, Guthrie Green and Droverstock. They recently released an EP called The Ease which has more in common with King Crimson or Yes as well as a couple of other rock bands from the 60's and 70’s that liked to jam rather than contemporary musicians. (Although you do hear a tinge of The Red Hot Chili Peppers.)

On their three-song EP they quickly establish that they aren't a typical verse/chorus/verse type of band. They flex their muscles on these songs, as all three members are technically proficient at their preferred instrument. The first song “Temporal Spurs” fades in with a walking bass, sporadic drumming and guitar feedback. At the thirty-second mark drums crash and waves of distorted guitars wash over you. The band quickly switches it up to a jangly start-and-stop type rhythm where the vocals are finally introduced. This band is all about timing as they switch up tempos quite often. If nothing else you can’t call this band boring. There are a lot of changes and peak and valleys as the song progresses over its seven minutes. 

“Drenched In Make Believe” has a bit of a slower start than the first song. The vocalist sings rather heady lyrics while the guitars are lightly strummed and the drummer implements a couple of rimshots. The band beefs up the song about a minute-and-a-half in as the guitars are covered in a 70’s type of crunch distortion. 

The last song “Famous Last Words” is a funky song that felt the most dance worthy among the bunch (at least a couple of sections were dance worthy). The band switches up the tempo so much it is hard to keep a constant groove. Towards the end of the song the band introduces horns, which were a nice addition to the lineup. It gave the music an extra layer of explosive melodies that enhanced the song. 

Ripple Green may not be for everyone but they sure impressed me with their songs. People who prefer more standard, concise verse/chorus/verse type songs may not appreciate the longer songs theses guys make. If you are however into bands that like to jam, switch things up and are accomplished instrumentalists this should something you can appreciate.

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