If you’re the type of person that regrets not having lived in the classic rock era because of the music, Burgess Meredith has you covered with A Dimension of Sound.
Retro-Rock Phenomena
In a world that seems full of revolving new age revivalist indie jams comes a picturesque time capsule. A Dimension of Sound takes beautiful elements from the birth of rock. The opening track, “Where We Were Born,” is psychedelic simplicity at its finest. Complete with hazy harmonies, piano and synth, and the obvious choice of a children’s chorus.
“A lot of the record is about anxiety for me and breaking the cycle of negative thinking that I can sometimes fall into. I wanted “When We Were Born” to be a positive message specifically. That’s where the idea to reinforce the positive message with a strong choral arrangement came from – we completely love the sonic quality of a kids chorus.” The band’s front man, Joshua King explains.
Aside from meaning and classic interpretation, A Dimension of Sound exhales a life of its own. “Outside” is absolutely incredible for this individuality. A standout track, “Outside” is perfectly placed in the middle of the record. From the psych beginning to the folk middle as the rock bleeds through in the end, the tune is encompassing. The entire genre flows in five minutes, paving the way for short “Welcome Home” and wavy “The Leaver.”
The Dimension of Burgess Meredith’s Imagination…
As much as the record examines mood and tone, it pays homage. Fans of the original The Twilight Zone series might mention a few things. First and most notably, the band name. Burgess Meredith is the narrator for the series as well as the movie. The connection between program and actor provided another element: the album name.
If you watch the ’60s “creepy door” opening, Meredith’s voice explicitly states the world the viewer is about to enter. “You unlock this door with a key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension. A dimension of sound.”
“The Man From Abilene” is a good audio experience of this dimension. The lingering effects of intertwining and eerie delight are embedded within. Mature and melodic. Distant and delightful. And then the switch completely flips for “Just One, Cool Daddy”, a track I can see The Brady Bunch dancing to on a Saturday night. And we all know The Brady Bunch had a killer taste in music.
So as the record finishes with another encompassing song, “After You”, there’s a strong desirability to press rewind. Much like the Texas-based band did for the direction of their album. A Dimension of Sound is enjoyable even for those who don’t closely identify with classic rock. It’s just mellow to listen to. It is also available to stream.