UnknownComponent

Unknown Component

In Direct Communication

There’s a veritable music factory churning along somewhere in Iowa City right now, and it’s a one-man operation. Having pumped out nearly a half dozen releases in the past few years, Unknown Component (aka Keith Lynch) fills the speakers with a heady mix of pop smarts, indie vibe and unwavering intensity on his latest, In Direct Communication. Following the quickly waltzing power-pop strains that open ‘Into the Sun’, Lynch belts out every word like he might not get another opportunity. “I feel like nothing’s changing” he blurts, the synthesis of Cobain gravel and emo-tinged Death Cab making his vocals both arresting and lonely. The synth-based rainy 80s pop of ‘Between Guilt and Relief’ uses reverb as another instrument, exerting an inexorable air of melancholy.

Stately in a Radiohead/U2 kind of way, ‘Identifying Interpretation’ remains aloft despite crunchy, filtered guitars that threaten to pull it earthward. No Yorke knockoff, Lynch’s voice is simply too limited to soar here; what he manages to do, though, is push it to its apparent limits and deliver a convincing, passionate performance that hits the right emotional buttons. Rather than being a liability, his singing style wins by sheer effort rather than gossamer grace. The pleasant, upbeat-sounding ‘Never Ceases to Remain Unchanged’ doesn’t escape the emotional rain clouds, but the clean guitars and driving bass provide something of an umbrella. Sometimes the best pop tunes are sticky-sweet confections masking bitter centers.

‘It’s a Fine Line’ opens with spare drums and austere guitars before breaking open in a hail of drum-machine fills and as much of an anthemic arena-rock chorus as homegrown indie production can possibly muster. Though the production can seem somewhat stifling at times, it never fails to serve the purpose of the songwriting; the modern trend toward hyper-realistic, auto-tuned sound simply wouldn’t improve these sturdy songs. In Direct Communication gets Lynch’s point across in spite of his iconoclastic approach, or maybe because of it. www.myspace.com/unknowncomponent. (D.M. Jones)

Songs are available for free download @ http://www.unknowncomponent.com