Garcia Peoples – One Step Behind
Beyond Beyond Is Beyond – Out Now
Naming a band Garcia Peoples imposes a certain set of expectations. As does recording three albums in the space of fifteen months. Yet Garcia Peoples isn’t a band that deals with people’s perceptions of what they are supposed to be. On One Step Behind they go far into uncharted territory taking listeners on a trip that covers almost thirty-two minutes and often feels more like a piece by Steve Reich than disciples of Jerry.
Over the course of One Step Behind’s nine movements, the twin guitars of Danny Arakaki and Tom Malach, keyboardist and flautist Pat Gubler, bassist Andy Cash, Cesar Arakaki on drums, and Derek Spaldo on bass and piano are never less than fascinating. Yet for all that, perhaps the most fascinating aspect of One Step Behind may be the appearance of Bob Malach, father to Tom. Malach’s saxophone has appeared on tracks by Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Madonna, Arto Lindsay, the Asbury Jukes, and Barbra Streisand.
His work boldly opens One Step Behind establishing an exploratory framework that the guitars of Danny Arakaki and Tom Malach build on going forward. At its centre, Danny sings, “You don’t care what anybody says. Life’s too short, I’m sure you’ve heard. I know you know, you know I know, at the most you’ll live to see the day that you can change in better ways. Just live to ride, don’t live to die.”
The song continues to morph into a variety of different yet connected forms. Shades of jazz appear, along with cosmic guitar solos, repetition and minimalism, not to mention power chords, and more sax. Energized and caffeinated, this brew ends up back at the starting point, yet the journey is mesmerizing.
Taking up the final eight minutes of the album is Heart And Soul, a ballad by Derek Spaldo. This is a fragile piece, nowhere more so than in the lyrics, “Now I understand if you won’t forgive me I can’t see beyond myself. You will haunt me for my whole life. I never got to say goodbye.” Pat Gubler’s flute solo adding to the heartbreak.
Over the course of forty minutes, Garcia Peoples stake out new territory. Instead of being “Jerry’s kids” they are a creative conglomerate playing in a completely different framework. Having learned from the past, they have chosen to go off in their own direction. They are entering uncharted territory, building on what has gone before while firmly headed toward the future.
Photo Credit: Ethan Covey