dredg: Leitmotif

    Dredg (stylized as dredg) is a progressive alternative rock band from Los Gatos, CA. I was introduced to them back before Catch Without Arms (2005) came out, liked El Cielo (2002) and listened a good amount to that album. I did not know about Leitmotif at the time, however; and as I tried to keep up with their more recent releases, including The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion (2009), I discovered Leitmotif (1998). This is a band, like many, that has lost a little bit of their original flavor, and consequently, I enjoy their earlier work more than their recent. Kind of the reason I chose this album is that I find myself listening to it more than their others (not to diminish El Cielo though, which is a great album!) I think bands find it increasingly difficult to stay unique and original, and often find themselves drifting into more mainstream accessible styles. Maybe their vision changes, or they cave to pressure to reach a broader audience--who knows.
    Leitmotif is a concept album, as with all of their releases, about a man's journey around the world in search of a moral cure to a disease a spirit tells him he has. Apparently, to quote: "the character learns to put faith in the religion found in the spiritual awakening of humankind, rather than buy into the religion of commerce and greed". Sounds mystic. Anyway, leitmotif is a musical term that is used to identify a musical motif (theme or melody perhaps) that keeps returning along with a particular character or idea. The first track,  often called "Symbol Song" is actually listed as a Chinese character meaning "change". So the whole overarching concept of the album is that the character who keeps reoccurring in the story goes through a transcendent change in morality which allows him to evolve and not die. Sounds mystic.
    The music is definitely progressive, with syncopated types of rhythms and not exactly mixed meters (more alternating between duple and triple figures) but also encapsulates a hard rock style at times, namely the track "Penguins in the Desert". Furthermore, dredg often adds a distant sound in their recordings, almost lo-fi, to their presentation; especially their latest album, The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion, which is manipulated at times to appear almost dreamy. Stringed instruments are frequently used by dredge, more so in El Cielo. For more information about the album and particular songs, as well as the track listing, click the "quote" link above.
    Leitmotif was recorded in 10 days and has since been re-released on the Universal label on September 11, 2001 and again as an 11 year anniversary 500 copy limited vinyl edition in May of 2010. I've uploaded the "Symbol Song" into the MixPod player, enjoy!