prosolar mechanics

Prosolar Mechanics doesn't sound much like the other bands profiled in Stuart Wexler's "Cruel But Fair" documentary about the late-'90s New Brunswick rock scene. That's because Prosolar Mechanics doesn't sound much like anybody, period. During the heyday of the scene chronicled in the documentary, they were a brand new force under the Jersey sun: a stunning fusion of King Crimson-style prog, trip-hop, electronic music, avant-metal, and austere space-rock. There was even something tribal about the band's brutal approach to rhythm, dynamics, and repetition. Their records — alas, there weren't many made — remain some of the spookiest stuff ever dragged out of the Jersey swamps. The songs play like black reveries, and, in a voice like Liz Phair caught in a waking nightmare, frontwoman Amy Jacob sings about car crashes, drowning, the future of sex (not unlike an incoming bomb, she suggests) and how she hears better in the dark. "It's so punishing to let go," she tells us on "The Body Spills," from "Turn On," their debut. She lets go anyway.

As happened with many of the bands in that scene, the Prosolar Mechanics operation ran low on steam in the early '00s. But the group never broke up, and in the past few years, they've been tuning up the spacecraft and taking it out on brief sorties. There were a few notable Prosolar sightings in 2009–10, including a performance at the Court Tavern for the "Cruel But Fair" documentary. This Saturday night (March 12), they'll be back at Maxwell's — the scene of some of their most floor-shaking performances — along with Blithe (doll), Neo Noir, and Shin Shu, all of whom are connected to the New Brunswick rock coterie.

"Jacob has become an even stronger singer than she was in the '90s... Those who remember the band from the Court Tavern might say that lead guitarist Alex Saville hasn't changed much, but that's because he had nowhere to go: he was already one of the state's true six-string originals. Saville coaxes sounds out of his guitar that no earthly instrument ought to be able to create."

Attending this show is highly recommended.

There are only seven songs on Prosolar Mechanics' debut CD (and a bonus rehearsal-tape track that sounds nothing like the rest of the album). You might as well say that there are "only" seven continents, or seven dwarves, or seven seas. Seven songs, each beautifully crafted, impeccably arranged, unique and special, each with its own range of rhythms, dynamics, guitar sounds, bass lines, and samples, the one unifying thread being Amy Jacob's stunning vocals.

On a personal note, it should be made clear that I regard the members of Prosolar Mechanics with enormous respect and affection. But objectivity isn't the issue here; excellence is. Every little touch seems inspired, from guitarist Alex Saville's cranky, grumbled background vocals, which serve as a brilliant counterpoint to Amy's keening melodicism on "Cosmopolitan," to the explosive drum sounds from Dave Reynolds that launch "Heaven Grand," to Mike Kabok's resoundingly funky yet otherworldly bass solo that kickstarts "Dive," to the eerie electronic sounds that infuse "Impact."

This is not your local neighborhood indie rock band, boys and girls. These are Prosolar Mechanics, on a mission to strengthen the life-force of the masses through sounds and ideas, and keep the forces of complacency, greed, and entropy at bay. May the force be with them.

Cover story. Text not available in this archive.

Feature on Prosolar Mechanics and a review of Studio Tan. No longer available online.

Prosolar Mechanics' just-released, clear vinyl 7" features a radio-ready slab of angst-pop genius known as "Impact" and a swirling, swerving, freakishly driven, damn-near essential brood-pulse ball-buster called "X Marks the Spot." In addition to their latest wall of pop-based, Sonic Youth-aware, carpet-of-sound think, mega-melt guitar-barrage, P-Mech drummer Dave Reynolds (ex-Urchins, Spiral Jetty), bassist Mike Kabok (Clay Idols), guitarist/vocalist Alex Saville (ex-ExVegas), and vocalist/guitarist Amy Jacob (ex-ExVegas) have thrown down the gauntlet and are double-dog daring you to visit their spiffed-up web site.

No longer available online.

Amy Jacob and Alex Saville compare their guitar work to an orchestra's string section, rather than to the standard rock format of lead guitarist and rhythm guitarist.

"It often feels like we're writing one part instead of two. Amy and I have played together for so long that we often don't feel right unless we can hear the other's guitar too." — Alex Saville

In Prosolar Mechanics, the New Brunswick duo's latest band, the guitars sound almost woven together. Jacob and Saville's affection for Sonic Youth — prominently displayed in the music of their last band, ExVegas — remains apparent. Dissonance and distortion run through every song.

But Prosolar Mechanics also gives plenty of room to its rhythm section. The drumming of Dave Reynolds, formerly of the Urchins, and the bass playing of Mike Kabok, formerly of the Los Angeles-based Clay Idols, create up-tempo beats that are vaguely danceable. Jacob's vocals are more prominent and less hazy than her work in ExVegas. The emphasis on vocal melody and the surge of energy from Kabok and Reynolds fuel the "string section" and give the music a smart, contemporary feel.

"Mike's bass uses more effects than other bassists we've had," Saville said, "and that, combined with Dave's Motown-influenced drumming, allows us to do a lot of sonic guitar work without sounding overly heavy."

"Oh. My. God. Quit your job. The incredible wall of guitar noise, big big drums and hypnotic vocals Prosolar Mechanics puts out — a new reason to live! In particular, 'Habit' goes right for the jugular, and you LIKE it. Amy Jacob's singing, 'it's your fault, it's your fault,' over throbbing bass and under stinging guitar is almost too much fun. My personal favorite is 'The Body Spills' — hint: if I had a record company I'd beg Prosolar Mechanics to sign with me."

No longer available online.

Alex Saville and Amy Jacob of ExVegas team with veteran New Brunswick drummer Dave Reynolds (Spiral Jetty, Urchins) and newcomer bassist Mike Kabok in this new group. The sonic guitars, throbbing funk bass and provocative vocals on this 3-song demo suggest Thurston Moore jamming with the Bush Tetras. "X Marks the Spot" teems with paranoia and mystery. Stay tuned — this powerful group should be a major player in the New Brunswick scene by the end of summer.

Charted nationally on college radio for multiple weeks in fall 1999. Stations included KZSU and others across the country. Also: Jersey Beat coverage of W/E Fest 2000.