4 out of 5

Produced by: Ben Carr

Label: Tortuga

There are some curiosities to this epic-length single + remix (over thirty minutes?  Sure!) that prevent it from clicking right away, and further stand in its path to give star perfection.  But it’s also one of those experiences that, once it clicks, you just get it, and can thrive on its mighty rock power for hours.

As was the case with earlier 5ive stuff (which this is, alternate name aside), we don’t blast into riffs: Part I takes about six or so minutes to hits its first drop, and it’s only one of several.  The song churns on a riff until everyone is tired, then pretends to fade into a conclusion before ripping into intensity once more.  You’d think you’d get tired of the trick after 20 minutes, but Ben Carr and crew piece the thing together so organically that you’re down with every ebb and flow.  …Which is why it’s frustrating that the recording on this is so tinny: Muffled guitar, barely heard drums, a hollow bass.  This is the barrier that requires a few listens, as the first go round cam be somewhat underwhelming until you recognize the production quality as a limiting factor.  Nudge the volume up a bit more; the goodness is there, waiting for your ears.

Plotkin remixes the track, clocking his version in at about half the fun time, and typical of the man’s inventiveness, it’s both hecka louder and quieter than the original, using a lot of added distortion to twist the track into a dreamlike echo.  But it’s an odd pairing, at the same time, not really a complement to the original as it is its own experience.  So that’s oddity number two, though it’s just a naming quirk: calling this a ‘part two’ is misleading.  I kept searching for a way to frame the two songs as one continuous listen, but they’re just too different, despite sharing DNA.  Adjusting once more, considering them wholly separate, and the remix also comes to life.

In both cases, this is worth the effort it may take to “hear” it.