Description

Fun With Sound is an album by the American singer and songwriter Michael Roe of The Seventy Sevens fame released under the 7&7is moniker, independently released on The 77s’ own label Fools of the World in 2004. (It was actually Roe’s second release under this moniker, the first one entitled More Miserable Than You’ll Ever Be was released on Alternative Records in 1990).

The album was recorded by Mark Harmon at The HarmFarm in Loomis, California; with additional recording by Sam Ching at DevonLou in Citrus Heights, California. Mixed and mastered by Ralph Stover at The Dirt Barn in Orangevale, California. Written and produced by Michael Roe and Mark Harmon. Featuring Michael Roe on guitar and vocals, Mark Harmon on bass, guitar, keyboards, and vocals, as well as L’Angelo Mysterioso on drums and percussion on all tracks except tracks 2, 6, 7 featuring Mick Fleetwood.

Fun With Sound is so titled because Michael Roe and Mark Harmon have knocked themselves out on the production front here. The drums are all programmed and sampled, keyboard effects weave in and out, and Roe’s guitar takes on personality after personality. If you’ve heard Orbis, imagine taking the more melodic sections of that piece and writing songs around that sonic template. The grooves are sweet, the melodies sweeter, and the blankets of overdubbed guitar are sweetest of all.

Opener «Gone in a Moment» sets the mood for the record, then bursts out of it with a perfect bridge. Listen to Roe and Harmon playing around each other on the beautiful extended ambient coda, and then dig the intro to «A Quiet Little Place», on which Harmon takes the lead with his fretless bass. These two have been playing together for more than a decade, long enough to continually push each other to new heights. They harmonize delightfully on the tricky «My World Inside», and practically duel on the fiery «L’Orbis/Jack Spoiler».

Lyrically, this album treads familiar ground for Roe – broken hearts and downtrodden souls. He gets positively optimistic on «Ride the Waves», but takes the emotional current of «Say So Long to Your Sad Old Love Song» as far as it will carry him. And in «Guadalupe» he pens a lovely tribute to Gene Eugene, the former Lost Dog and Adam Again mastermind who passed away in 2000. (Guadalupe was the rumored title of the sixth Adam Again album, which Eugene never got to make.) He ends with a nod to his gospel roots on «I Will Run to the City of Refuge», with a Zeppelin twist. It’s the heaviest thing here, and makes for an explosive conclusion.

I’ve often said that there are only a few guitarists I will never tire of listening to, and Mike Roe is one of them. His six-string is everywhere on Fun With Sound, adding flourishes and weaving webs. And when he solos, as on «Thank You For Your Dreams», it’s a wonder to behold. I will never figure out why guitar magazines aren’t falling all over this guy – he’s an obvious master with a lyrical tone and a deeply emotional playing style. Roe should have disciples who transcribe his every lick and try to play them with as much heart as he does. Just listen to the lengthy, lovely ending of «Sad Old Love Song» if you don’t believe me.

It wouldn’t be stretching too far to consider Fun With Sound the best thing Roe has done in years, even considering the steep competition. This is a record that spotlights just about everything he does well – the guitar playing of Daydream, the songwriting of the 77s’ Direct, the perfect production of Orbis, the lyrics and sweet, sweet vocals of Say Your Prayers. This is not an experimental toss-off, it’s the real deal. If you’ve never sampled Roe’s work before, this is a great place to start. [Andre Salles, Tuesday Morning 3 a.m., December 2004]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/fun-with-sound/520681668)

CD tracklist:

01. Gone in A Moment – 6:35
02. A Quiet Little Place – 4:41
03. My World Inside – 5:14
04. Thank You For Your Dreams – 5:09
05. Say So Long to Your Sad Old Love Song – 6:21
06. Ride the Waves – 5:49
07. Glory Train – 3:31
08. Guadalupe – 5:29
09. L’Orbis/Jack Spoiler – 6:07
10. I’m Gonna Run to the City of Refuge – 3:14

Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://the77s.bandcamp.com/album/fun-with-sound

CREDITS. Produced by Michael Roe and Mark Harmon.

Seven & Seven Is: Michael Roe (Guitars/Vocals) and Mark Harmon (Bass/Guitars/Keyboards/Vocals). Also Featuring: Mick Fleetwood (Drums & Percussion on “Glory Train”, “Ride The Waves” & “A Quiet Little Place”), L’Angelo Mysterioso (Drums & Percussion on Everything Else).