Tulsa Drone - No Wake

Tulsa Drone features a six-foot bass hammered dulcimer. So right off the bat, you know this group has something different to offer. No Wake feels like a dark instrumental trip through some uncharted territories. Strangely enough, this is a bit off-putting at first. After trying to listen to their disc a few times, I just put it down and decided I wasn't going to get it. It wasn't going to happen. But then it clicked. The instrumentation is intense. The basic musical structure is similar to that of Mogwai, Tortoise, or any other dramatically building instrumental group. However, Tulsa Drone manages to put their own unique spin on the sounds that are required to make this extremely effective. The songs are driven by dark deep basslines but are carried by the unique dulcimer sound and guitar. You might think that having nine songs with the same basic formula and instrumentation would get old. Fortunately, No Wake is engaging to epic proportions. High points on the record include "The Devil Changes Colors", "Fiery Seven", "Vendetta", and "No Wake" for the most morose trumpet you've ever heard, the feeling of impending doom, somewhat creepy quietness, and dulcimer feedback.. in that order. Admittedly, it took me a minute to really catch on to what Tulsa Drone was offering. The songs are dark, textured, and invoke the feeling that it was written to some sort of narrative; you just don't know what it is. No Wake is highly recommended for anyone with a penchant for instrumental, dark, rock that comes with a bit of a twist. [www.tulsadrone.com]