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I don't know about you, but I got a spot in my soul reserved for acoustic guitar. I was sitting here at my studio surfing MySpace, in kind of a melancholic mood, sorting though the bands that were kind enougt to add me as their friend, when I ran across Simeon Flick. The music put me in a reflective mood and I latched on to the sound instantly. Simeon was kind enough to send in his CD (one of the many I receive each month) and as soon as I listened to it, I knew it would be the one I would turn to when I just want to chill out. Simeon is an embodiment of true musical talent and any connoisseur of music will enjoy this CD. Although I have not had the privelege of catching Simeon's live shows, I understand he's already performed with some pretty big acts. His repertoire of A-list acts that he's shared the stage with include No Doubt, Sublime, Fishbone, and The Untouchables. Music is in this guy's soul so be sure to check him out at www.simeonflick.com or www.myspace.com/simeonflick where I found him. Keep your eyes open for his next CD--Reactive Soul. -Michael West, Revolt In Style, Spring 2006 Issue
Be surprised and delighted by this disc **** Fully schooled, yet irreverent and audacious, Simeon Flick is like the classically trained artist who can use his finely tuned technique to create an exquisite oil painting in one moment and then throw convention to the wind in the next by playfully flinging funky colors against a wall just for the hell of it. This is one musically twisted dude and for my money, the moments on "Indigo Child" that inspire and delight the most are the ones where Mr. Flick is most aggressively getting in touch with his inner Frank Zappa. "Round in Circles" and "Good Graces" both offer catchy tweaks on somewhat conventional acoustic rock formats with plenty of musical and lyrical ear candy to keep your attention. "Indigo Child" gives you an intoxicating first glimpse into the instrumental side of Simeon Flick with spooky chord changes and jazzy leads. "Do It and Leave" makes good on the promise of the first three tracks by delivering a instantly potent, confident rocker with more sly twists than I can really trust myself to speak of, both musically and lyrically. One thing that certainly becomes evident on "Do It and Leave" is the fact that any attempt to place Mr. Flick's vocal style and/or range into any particular category is an exercise in futility. The next two tracks left me a little bit flat, but "Contemplation No. 3: River" gets it back on track in a big way with a stunning classical number that fully transcends the obligatory "rock guitarist weakly imitating a classical guitarist on a rock album while playing an insultingly boring pseudo-classical piece" scenario by delivering a fully legit and beautiful rendition of a wonderfully fresh and original Flick composition. "Omegajam" removes any doubt you may have had before about just what a funky chicken this Simeon Flick really is. The lyrics stand alone on this track as a jaw-dropping take on the state of the world juxtaposed against an imagined meeting featuring the gods of mythology. To say anything more about these supremely clever lyrics would just not be right....you've GOT to hear them/read them for yourself and be amazed. The music on "Omegajam" delivers the same punch that the lyrics do with a crazy-ass shuffle beat, turned on its ear and then pimp slapped into a frenzy while Mr. Flick spills out the lyrics in an almost free-form fashion that reminds me of Paul Simon on the "Graceland" album. This is wildly entertaining stuff. "Can't Wait 'Til I Die" shifts the music into an entirely new direction with a way cool, smoky jazz ditty that sounds to me a bit like Sting singing a Leon Redbone tune (side note, if the Sting/Leon combo sounds too eclectic for you, beware that this might not be the CD for you). The lyrics for "Can't Wait 'Til I Die" are thought provoking (dare I say, even controversial??!!) to be sure and would be wonderful fodder for some sort of heated debate to erupt around a dinner table. And that brings us to the bonus track...am I even allowed to talk about the bonus track? All I will say about it is that it's sort of like an Indiana Jones movie where you have to work your way through a maze of some ridiculous peril in order to get to the gold, but it's well worth it when you get there as a very tasty track awaits you that will show yet ANOTHER genre of music that Simeon Flick inhabits with glee and swagger. Simeon Flick may also be one of the few musical artists out there who would dare put a song this strong in as a bonus track that takes a hell of alot of work to get to! All in all, "Indigo Child" is a disc to be celebrated by those who appreciate real musical daring, craftsmanship and invention. If your musical desires begin and end with the dribble that your local STAR FM radio station spews out, then be afraid...be very afraid of this CD.
Within ten tracks, Flick bridges the gap between confrontational rock and intricate folk harmonies. The disc isn't reliant on either style but instead is anchored by a rhythm that effectively uses the dynamics of both oeuvres. Though undercurrents of melancholy run through many songs, the album doesn't give in to depression and woe. Instead, the themes of lost love and dying break away to words centered on hope and resolve. Soft tones and acoustic dexterity mark the rolling ballad "Good Graces" where Flick sings, "I don't know who you are, but I think I'm falling out of your good graces." Simple, yes, but the sullen restraint with which Flick delivers it is akin to the kind of emotion in U2's "With or Without You." Other highlights include the rowdier closer "Can't Wait Till I Die."
The cut's lines, all sung tongue-in-cheek, are well suited to the vintage
rocker: "Well, I don't know if I've been here before, but I don't
think I'll be back for more / so I say with a sigh, can't wait till I
die."
Simeon's got some acoustic guitar skills here and a voice he can belt with some folkie soul, but for now he's a bit like Gordon Lightfoot[?] meets Hootie and the Blowfish[??]. Only without Hootie's great pipes[???] nor Gordon's cool sailor hat[????]. –Troy Johnson
SIMEON
FLICK - Indigo Child It seems to me that Simeon Flick combines elements from just about every musical style you can think of on his 10-song CD, Indigo Child. But he does it with subtlety and nuance to create music that is very pleasant to listen to, and the influences of rock 'n' roll, jazz, gospel, jug band, folk, ballads, and pop melt together to produce an original sound all his own. Like Cat Stevens' music of the early '70s, you really can't categorize it or pigeon hole it to one specific style. The entire CD has a rich, full sound that I credit to the producer and arranger - also Flick, besides writing and performing all the songs. As with all good music, Indigo Child gets better with each listening. I love it when that happens, because there is nothing better than the excitement of discovering new music and the talent behind it. Flick's vocals are exceptional -supported by lush arrangements that overlap the glistening background harmonies. An accomplished musician, he plays every instrument on the CD with only a few exceptions, including 6- and 12-string acoustic and electric guitars, fretless bass, drums, djembe, and an array of other assorted percussion instruments. The production of these arrangements is also top notch. Flick captures the eclectic essence of his own performance, especially on "Surrender Song" and "Ingenue," which is not listed on the CD cover. "Indigo Child" and "Contemplation No. 3: River" are two tasty instrumentals that actually help accent the vocals on the songs that follow. A nice touch, which serves a purpose in addition to contributing to a well thought out song order. This CD, if you could visualize it with your ears, has one big aura. Listen, and I think you'll agree. |