Time and Energy

‘Strange Kind of Focus’ is what you get when you combine the talents of two extraordinarily determined individuals capable of playing several instruments. Jorge Rios – who I suppose could best be described as the lead man because he provides the vocals – and Brennan Roach do their work for the love of the music; minimal vocals and a whole lot of picking, blowing and drumming.

Time and Energy’s experimental rock proclivities are a feast of sounds for your ear. Often you find yourself playing ‘spot the instrument’ as you relax to Rios’ messages – and they are messages of life expelled by Rios’ unintimidating tone and enhanced with reverb effects.

When you’re not playing ‘spot the instrument’, then you’re instead coming to grips with several nonconformist arrangements that include unexpected peaks and troughs in tempo and tone. Considering many of the tracks are of short length, it seems as if Time and Energy are trying to fit as many variations into their music within rigid restraints; as if attempting to pass coded messages to the masses before the communique is intercepted.

Clearly, ‘Strange Kind of Focus’ is the embodiment of the band’s environment – the picturesque introspective Orange County lifestyle. Yet, the band include moments of Latin flare – not only through Rios’ lyrics, but also in the Santana-esque fiddling of the guitar riffs chattering over several psychedelic episodes.