Eddie Jacquez’s persistent attempts to get recognized by a record producer have paid off. The Farmington musician, who plays in instrumental rock band Cinematica, was following Albuquerque producer Kenny Riley on Instagram, and would often drop hints about Riley’s Rio Grande Studio, its equipment, and musicians Riley was working with. He did so hoping perhaps Riley would take notice of the band and their music. As luck would have it, Riley did. The Cinematica trio went to his studio last summer to record their album, “Ultraviolet Waterfall.”
Cinematica will perform at the Balcony Backstage on Friday, April 6.
“All the sudden, I get a random email one day, and we were reached out to by this producer,” said Jacquez. “He checked out our profile and said, ‘Hey, I hear something that I feel like I could work with. I feel like I could take your sound to the next level. Give me a call.’ He left his number for me and said, ‘Let’s talk.’”
Soon after, the trio was making a record in Albuquerque. The band is now hitting it hard, incorporating a number of videos into their electronic press kit, and anticipating a return to the famed Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles later this year. They’ll be opening for the band Orgy.
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Like Cinematica’s overall sound, “Ultraviolet Waterfall” is a dose of punk and instrumental guitar rock via space, psychedelic, guitar-driven indie rock, recommended if you like the meandering of Ozric Tentacles and the technique of Trans Am.
Influenced by the open space on the outskirts of their town, the band’s music is vast, delicate, and dreamy, while remaining adventurous and bold.
A lot of instrumental music made in the western United States comes with a space-country edge, and is often lumped in as desert noir. Ditch the country, keep the space, add an electric guitar, and you get close to Cinematica. The rhythm section, courtesy of Jacquez and bass player O.J. Kaminky, lays solid ground for Brandon Mike’s guitar skills.
Mike’s style and tone walks delicately between subtle and aggressive. His playing is moving, with a jazz influence that brings moments of pure escape, and could fool the listener into thinking they’re listening to the improvisation of a tripped-out jam band. That soon disappears amidst power chords and drive, though.
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The band is equally adept at laying back into the world of soundbed and soundtrack, but will ultimately blast straight into the forefront, with a dark, sophisticated sound perfect for a Friday night or Sunday morning.
Cinematica’s music translates with ease from studio to stage, and the band manages to say a lot without actually saying a word.
“We love vocals, but there’s something unique about an instrumental band when you see an audience that gets captivated by what you’re doing and not saying a word. It just happened the cards fell that way for us. Brandon is such a beautiful guitar player. It’s like the songs are saying things to you without being sung,” said Jacquez.
“There’s something romantic about instrumental music. You can get lost in your own mind. You’re not trying to figure out what the singer is trying to tell you, or asking yourself what he’s trying to say. You’re caught in the sound. It envelopes you and takes you somewhere other music can’t,” he said.
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. [email protected].
