4 out of 5

Label: Comedy Minus One

Produced by: Matthew Barnhart (recorded by)

I miss Silkworm. I love that the surviving crew has lived on in various other formations, but there’s a core raw rock sound SKWM typified that I miss.

Deep Tunnel Project, being another Silkworm-adjacent group – appearing on Comedy Minus One; featuring Midyett on bass – severely scratched that long-standing itch when I put it on. Recorder Matthew Barnhart, normally something of a soft touch, seems to channel Albini’s roomy, terse production when paired with J. Robbins’ mixing; TAR vocalist / guitarist John Moor pretty much sounds like Midyett when singing, and other Tarster Michael Greenless’ drumming has a similar punch to that band. Then mapped to a punkier-leaning grunge a la Moor’s and Greenless’ band, which was kind of the foundation for this project…

Yeah, itch scratched, carving out something like an alternative history Lifestyle record.

That said, I’m talking about a band that is neither TAR or Silkworm, and so there are differences, pluses and minuses: at a high level, the group writes more mood than songs; it can be a little weird to realize there’s no real enduring riff or poignant lyric when the record has this unavoidable nod-along, singalong vibe. The feeling of the listening to the album is thus memorable, but I’m not sure the riffs or melodies are. But that’s a unique experience; not necessarily negative once you’re keen to it, although I would say the record would feel tighter with some more directness throughout, as well as… aright, maybe some more solos? As good and meaty as the playing can be, with peaks achieved through general intensity, we’re lacking any real breakout moments.

Deep Tunnel Project is something of both an instant pleasure – for those of us missing good ol’ rock – and a slowburn, taking some spins to digest the album’s avoidance of peaks and valleys in favor of a steady hand. That steady hand is arguably too steady at points, but the confidence it immediately offers is a wholly welcome respite in Silkworm-less seas.