CMJ Music Marathon 2008 Day 2: Adept

Adept may have the least literal band name of any of the groups I caught at the Subbacultcha! showcase. Throughout their 30 minute set, these fuzzed-out new wavers were the picture of inconsistency and at times gave the impression there was more than one band performing on the basement corner stage. Combining noise’s complex musical texture and new wave’s steadfast simplicity is a difficult balancing act. When they got it right, Adept were both intriguing and enthralling. But more often than not, the wall of caustic distortion created by the guitarist and vocalist broke free from driving drum beats and dissonant keys, creating a separation that pulled apart Adept’s delicate tailoring at the seams.