Bay Area math-rock trio Covet will be performing at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philly on Thursday, 11/1 – Hail the Sun will also be performing and Polyphia is the headliner. Tickets are still available here.
As a pedestrian fan of math-rock, I’ve always appreciated the technical aspects of the genre with its impossible-to-follow time signature changes, dissonant counterpoint, and jaw-dropping instrumental virtuosity; however, I’ve historically filed it into the same category as avant-garde/experimental jazz (i.e., impressive to behold, but more enjoyable for the performer than the listener). Being such a male-dominated genre, its self-indulgent and masturbatory nature isn’t surprising. But that’s just one side of the story. There are actually some amazing bands and sub-genres in math-rock that do appeal to my more melodic sensibilities, but none more so than those that blend math elements with the more dramatic qualities of post-rock. Enter Covet.
A follow up to their 2015 Currents EP, Covet released their “full-length” debut Effloresce just this past July. Showing growth in their songwriting, listening through Effloresce is like experiencing a roller coaster of dynamics. Like movements of a symphony, the lead track “Shibuya (feat. San Holo)” is 4 songs melded into 1. The song breaks character intermittently to reveal distinct yet harmonious moods – the transitions are just genius. Effloresce feels inspired and spontaneous, while cohesive and deliberate in theme – it’s challenging yet accessible. Clearly talented beyond comprehension, they avoid the mistake of over-indulging in their abilities and, in doing so, evoke a sense of artistry, emotion, and maturity.
It should come as no surprise that Covet’s aesthetic and musicality are due in large part to guitarist Yvette Young’s classical music up-bringing. While a self-taught guitar player, she was classically trained from a young age on piano and violin and her self-proclaimed composition style is influenced by some of the Romantic- and Impressionist-era greats. The quiet-loud dynamic shared between classical music and post-rock is also an important aspect of what Young tries to emulate on guitar (source). Their complex and sophisticated sound is rounded out by David Adamiak on bass and Forrest Rice on drums.
FYI, Young has also released 2 solo acoustic EPs (where she also sings) and is also a talented artist/painter (she does all of her own and Covet’s album artwork).
Watch Covet’s official video for “Shibuya” below.