BUY IT

[by Scott Thill]

Instrumental rock fills a space of longing and lack for its acolytes. It's the soundtrack of our lives, so to speak, and depending on who you're listening to at the time. Northern California's Continental have said as much with their latest release, What Was Gained From What Was Loss. And loss...well, they know a lot about it, having recently lost a bandmember of their own. But the symbiotic circle of life and death goes on. And so must the show. Guitarist Craig Escalante explains.

Morphizm: Talk about the recent loss of Brent Kimble.
Continental: The loss of Brent Kimble was a huge blow for us. More than losing a bandmate, we lost a dear friend. We're all very close, spending a lot of time together outside of Continental (three of us even live in the same building). So, Brent's passing really left a huge void in our personal lives. Brent had a very lively and magnetic personality, and was always the center of attention, so to suddenly have that missing has been very difficult. He was also just a really sweet guy and someone that people wanted to know and spend time with. He is really missed. After we lost Brent, we went about a month without even discussing the band. One day we got together to talk and we all felt very strongly about continuing to play together. We also felt like changing the name of the band would be strange, because we still felt like Continental. We also thought that by keeping the name we would be honoring all the work and dedication that Brent had put into the band. So, we dove right in and started writing and rehearsing new material. It's been a challenge to figure out how to make things work, but we're getting there. The new lineup has forced us to rethink what we do, our processes and our roles within the band. It's actually opened up a lot of creativity because we're reinventing ourselves and Continental.

Morphizm: What was the goal for What Was Gained From What Was Lost, respective to past efforts like Four-Letter Words? Do you feel the sound is different and how have your diverse influences aided the creative process?
Continental: The goal of the new record, which is the underlining goal of the group itself, is to make great music and to continue to grow and evolve. We never want to repeat oursleves, musically. So, we're constantly challenging ourselves to do something different and interesting. I think What Was Gained... captured Continental at a certain point in that ongoing process. The sound of the new record is very different from past releases. One of the factors in that change was my joining the band (I joined after the recording, but before the release, of Four-Letter Words). Just having another instrument in the band created a new dynamic and changed the sound. Even before I joined, the band was already in the process of creating new sounds and exploring new styles. So, when I came into the group, they were really willing to try anything. Also, this record is the first to have songs recorded by someone outside the band. Our friend Daniel McKenzie (who is also an excellent musician and a member of The Rum Diary), recorded & mixed three songs at his home studio. I think all those factors added up to both a change in style and sound. People familiar with Continental who have not seen or heard us in a while will probably be a bit suprised by the new record. It's still very much us, but quite different from the other records.


Morphizm: What is the state of the San Francisco music scene, in your estimation? How has the city influenced your sound and selves?
Continental: San Francisco's (really the whole Bay Area's) music scene is thriving. There was a rough patch in the '90s when rent prices were out of control and clubs and rehearsal spaces were closing and people were leaving the area. But, things have settled a bit and there is an amazing amount of great musicians working in about every style and genre that you could imagine. It's difficult to say what affect the city has had on us musically other than in very concrete terms like, it's too expensive for musicians and artists to just work on their projects without having some kind of job to support themselves. Also, I take a lot of inspiration from the people that I meet here, be they musicians or artists or just interesting characters - but that probably happens everywhere. I am very much enamored of the Bay Area and it's history, politics and culture, so I'm very happy & proud to call it my home.

Morphizm: Why instumental rock? What is it about wordless songcraft that interests you?
Continental: Well, I play rock music because it's all I can play really. Instrumental rock presents a great challenge to musicians- to make rock music that is engaging, entertaining, memorable and interesting without what is normally the focal point, voice. I really like having to create melodies and interlocking parts that take the place of the vocals. I find it fun, and endlessly challenging. Sometimes vocals can be limiting, depending on the singer's range, ability and style. With instrumental music the field is wide open, anything can happen, and I find that exciting.

Morphizm: Why vocals? Why did you avoid them in the past and what attracted you to the idea of including more vocals on What Was Gained...?
Continental: Well, when the band started nobody expressed interest in singing (they didn't even know that Brent could sing), and they had no desire to look for a singer. So, they adopted the stance of "no vocals". As time passed they realized that they'd put a restriction on themselves that didn't need to be there. So, when Brent came forward with an idea for vocals, and the ability to sing the part on This Empty Palace (from Four-Letter Words), they ran with it and incorporated it into the mix. That became the new working model of Continental, that any creative idea is worth considering. When we were writing "August Ends" from the new record, Brent again had an idea. We just let him go with it and the vocals ended up fitting in a place in the song that seemed lacking before. We've learned that vocals have a place in the arsenal just like the guitars, drums or anything else. We're open to trying any idea and that is at the very core of the group. Hopefully, that will continue to serve as a source for inspiration and growth.

SLEATER-KINNEY
"Jumpers"
From: The Woods
MP3
See Also:
One Beat

ANTHRAX
"I Am the Law"
From: Alive 2
See Also:
Public Enemy
QT WMA

MINUS THE BEAR:
"The Game Needed Me"
From: Menos El Orso
MP3

THE LIKE
"What I Say and What I Mean"
From: Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking
MP3 WMA REAL

KINKSI:
"Wives of Artie Shaw"
From: Alpine Static
MP3

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE:
"Soul Meets Body"
From: Plans
AUDIO: WMA REAL
See Also: Transatlanticism

JAMES BLUNT:
"You're Beautiful"
From: Back to Bedlam
VIDEO: QT WM

BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB:
"Ain't No Easy Way"
From: Howl
AUDIO: MP3 REAL QT WM
See Also:
Black Rebel Motorycle Club

NEIL YOUNG
From: Prairie Wind
WATCH:
"It's a Dream"
QT WMA
WATCH:
"This Old Guitar"
QT WMA