Stemage reviewed
Stemage
Strati
(Silent Uproar)
There are almost an obnoxious number of one-man artists hiding behind bandnames (Nine Inch Nails, Sparklehorse foremost), though the disciplined, Helmet-like tones of Stemage are a new angle.
No guests, backing bands, producers, or engineers on Strati, just Grant Henry (and one microphone). In the age of processors and drum machines this doesn’t seem too impressive, until you consider math rock is really best pulled off by a band. Still, somehow Henry makes “Calling The Kettle” sound like a lost Thirty Ought Six track, and you’ll swear “Library” involves J. Robbins on guitar, vocals, or twiddling knobs . . . somewhere. As a drummer he’s competent and not flashy, which is important because if all you noticed were time signatures you’d think he’s a show-off. O.K., a real show-off. Because Strati harks back so consistently to the mid ’90s, it’s tempting to think it has taken Henry as long to pull this off. Even if it did it’d still be damn impressive (minus the amateur death metal of “Fabulous Fabulist”), and a benchmark in any genre.
— Steve Forstneger
Click here to download “Calling The Kettle.”
While I understand the comment about “Fabulous Fabulist,” if you read the lyrics you’ll find it’s a joke. Perhaps it would’ve played better at the end of the album. At any rate…Well said. Thanks for the review. Stem is one of my favorite artists out there today.