From Splendidezine.com: "This Portland, Oregon power trio redefines progressive math rock. The
remarkable rhythm changes and wiry guitar lines are in place, but 31Knots
adds a startling injection of quirky pop to its mix. But fear not, faithful
rocker -- It Was High Time to Escape won't find its way to commercial radio
anytime soon; it's still too complex for the lackadaisical music fan to
enjoy. The prickly guitar lines and jerky changes still require your full
attention, but clever lyrics and catchy melodies add incredible depth to
Escape 's tunes, placing 31Knots well above their contemporaries in the
quality stakes.
Forget lame-brain power-chords. 31Knots prefer a virtuoso, connect-the-notes
approach, blending crisp guitar with running basslines that maintain unusual
but accessible rhythms. "Darling, I" and "The Gospel According to
Efficiency" are the disc's most enticing tracks; both are vocal-heavy, and
vocalist Joe Haege scores bonus points for his passionate melodies and
fearless delivery. Many of the band's math-rock peers can dish up the same
searing instrumental energy, but few have a frontman as remarkable as Haege.
It's not so much that Haege is an exemplary vocalist -- he misses notes and
certainly wanders off-pitch -- but his distinctive tone is a refreshing
alternative to the atonal grunts that plague so many other bands. Haege
sings, screams and shouts his way through "At Peace", a Slint-styled rocker
with more behavioral changes than a moody ex-girlfriend. Whether he's
singing along to the guitar line on "We Still Have Legs" or brazenly adding
another layer of musical complexity to "That Which Has No Name", Haege is in
top form.
However, that's no reason to sell bassist Jay Winebrenner and drummers Joe
Kelly and Jay Pellicci short. They may avoid the microphone, but each takes
his share of the musical spotlight. Winebrenner's basslines are dazzling; he
alternates between low-end rhythmic accents and fancy fretboard changes.
"Played Out For Punchlines"'s tantalizing rhythm is catchy, but retains
plenty of complexity to wow the musician-types in the audience. As for the
drummers, while Kelly left the band after recording began, Pellicci is an
exceptional replacement. There isn't a tune on Escape that doesn't include
a taste of Joe and Jay's tricky percussion; air drummers world-wide will be
left grimacing in bewilderment.
31Knots' progressive rock experiment succeeds. It's imaginative, intensely
entertaining and damn near impossible to imitate. After a hearty fix of the
band's tasty prog-pop, you'll surely be scouring the record bins for their
other releases -- but take it slowly, because you won't find anything else
out there quite like It Was High Time to Escape . See you at the record
store!"
