Categories: REVIEWS

First Umpire – I’m Here, I’ll Wait

Photo courtesy of the band.

“I’m Here, I’ll Wait” is a debut release by First Umpire, an outstanding musical outlet of the musical project of Pat Cheiban, a Lebanese-American producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Brooklyn, New York. It consists of two excellent compositions, vividly showcasing Cheiban’s songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities. Soundwise, First Umpire explored many different musical territories, but some music genres are more noticeable than others. Perhaps indie rock comes to mind first, but you’ll notice how Pat Cheiban incorporated some of the finest properties borrowed from post-punk, punk rock, new wave, and alternative. This collection of different but complementary styles allows him to enhance, accentuate, and decorate these two tracks while remaining loyal to the primary sonic direction. Therefore, these experimentations resulted in a sound that will immediately resonate with even the pickiest listeners and beyond.

Photo courtesy of the band.

This excellent release commences with “I’m Here,” a perfect showcase of Pat Cheiban’s creativity and talent. The song merges all the significant elements of indie, post-punk, and alternative movies into a cohesive whole, making it a pleasant listening experience that unquestionably crosses all the boundaries of these music genres. From excellent vocal performance and lush ambiance achieved by clever guitar interplays to equally intricate low-ends and outstanding drumming, “I’m Here” immediately grabs your attention and refuses to let go even after the song ends. The generous servings of raw, abrasive, fuzzy distortion complement each segment while providing a perfect contrast to profoundly melodic vocal maneuvers. You’ll also notice how the bass guitar and drums serve as a backbone for all the instrumentations to shine upon. Pat Cheiban showcases his impressive ideas and musicianship right from the start, as each segment delivers many vocal, sonic, and rhythmic delicacies. It’s a perfect opening song that will unquestionably end up on your playlist.

“I’ll Wait” is coming up next. It’s an upbeat indie track with strong post-punk vibes. The artist seamlessly levitates between the nostalgic ambiance of the eighties and polished modern sounds. As in the previous composition, Pat Cheiban thoroughly planned all the vocal harmonies. You’ll notice how the expertly sung harmonies command attention and guide the listening apparatus while expertly balancing low, mid, and high notes with precision and finesse. These vocal maneuvers perfectly match all the instrumentation enclosed along the way. You’ll hear how the guitars shape an adequate backdrop for all these vocals to shine upon while the comprehensive collection of excellent chord progressions, riffs, and other sonic acrobatics act like a perfect backdrop. In the meantime, the equally intricate, vividly hearable, warm-sounding basslines rumble beneath the guitar layers, offering more than necessary heaviness, clarity, and depth while binding all the instrumentations to the drumming sequences. The energetic beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics keep everything in line while dictating the groove and pace.

First Umpire thought about everything while working on these songs. Both tracks arrive with cleverly assembled structures, invigorated with many segments, ideas, and instrumentations. This wise artist has poured heart and soul into these songs, resulting in a fascinating listening experience that indulges your ears from scratch to finish. From marvelous songwriting and composing to flawless performing, “I’m Here, I’ll Wait” is a marvelous double single worth checking out. Head to your favorite streaming platform and listen to it loud. Don’t miss it!

Djordje Miladinović

Hi, my name is Djordje and music is my passion. You'll probably find me at the gigs, in a local record store, distro or in front of my PC searching for some quality music to listen to. Do not hesitate to contact me. By becoming a Patron, you're keeping Thoughts Words Action alive. https://www.patreon.com/thoughtswordsaction

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