Into the cosmos

American Watercolor Movement reckons with a dystopian future

When we last heard from American Watercolor Movement, on 2023’s space-opera concept album “The Odyssey of Captain Vivian Ribbons,” a desperate planet had launched a last ditch effort into the cosmos to find mankind a new home. That remarkable song cycle – a teeming mix of post-punk, prog-rock, and otherworldly effects - described Capt. Ribbons’ death and cosmic rebirth. Now the band – an avatar of the Jersey City diaspora, with musicians who coalesced locally but currently contribute parts from far-flung parts the country – brings us the story of what happened back on earth with their stunning new release, “The Reckoning.”

Multi-instrumentalist John Fesken and Brian Wilson, along with vocalist Jason Cieradkowski, formed the art-pop combo AWM in Jersey City back in the late Nineties, when Fesken also played with Joe Centeno in Jersey City’s Plug Spark Sanjay. These days, Fesken lives in New Orleans and Wilson in Denver, while Cieradkowski still teaches middle school in Jersey City.

“Living all over the country, we rarely see each other in person,” noted Wilson (not to be confused with the Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.) “So it's all remote recording, hence the big change in this and the last album. We're not sitting together in a practice space coming up with ideas together. We now come up with ideas, share them, record parts on each other’s ideas, expand them, and so forth.”

Like its predecessor, “The Reckoning” images a dark future where mankind has exhausted the planet’s resources. When Capt. Vivian Ribbons fails to find a new planet for mankind, the people of Earth turn to intelligent computers to save themselves. As always happens (at least in dystopian sci-fi,) the robots wind up taking over and subjugating humanity. But then, a funny thing happens… the robots, imitating their human creators, learn to experience emotions too.

American Watercolor Movement tells this story in 13 tracks of trippy, almost indescribable post-something rock, with distorted, disembodied voices, layers of synthesizers and percussion, and Cieradkowski acting as both narrator and singer. At times eerie, foreboding, and unnervingly prophetic, the album’s Bowiesque explorations make for an engrossing and entertaining listen, even for those who usually consider the likes of Tangerine Dream a nightmare.

With the debate over A.I. one of America’s hottest topics, “The Reckoning” couldn’t be more timely - or more chilling. On “The Reprogram,” artificial intelligence calmly informs mankind it’s about to be replaced; on “Oblivious Submission,” the robots tell humanity, “the world was dying while you were dancing, the world has died while you slept till dawn.” Make your own connections to our current engagement (or lack thereof) with climate change and other perils.

“You can take the band out of JC, but you can’t take the JC outta the band,” noted Wilson. American Watercolor Movement proves that, and then some. “The Reckoning” is available at americanwatercolormovement.bandcamp.com, as well as all major streaming platforms.

ROLAND RAMOS GETS CUDDLY
Speaking of the Jersey City diaspora, Roland Ramos enjoys a long history as a musician, spiritual adviser, and community activist in JC and Hoboken, but recently relocated to New Haven. His new 6-song EP "Cuddle Basstard" creates an entirely new sonic identity for Ramos, who has previously been known for delicate, clean acoustic guitar and Latin-flavored romantic pop.

On “Cuddle Basstard,” Ramos modifies his vocals to be deeper and awash in distortion. “It adds a kind of serrated edge, so the vocals cut through the music,” Ramos explained. Songs range from sprightly indie-pop on “Cara” and “In The Sun,” to a more familiar Latin vibe on other tracks. The guitars are electric in both senses of the word; sizzling, fluid and sensuous, to the point where “Simple Hands” recalls something like Santana’s “Evil Ways.” An undulating bass adds a sex undertone to “Tequila Kisses,” while Ramos’ vocal communicates enormous understanding and affection on “You’re In A Hole Now,” an outstretched hand to a loved one in need.

“Cuddle Basstard” is available now on all streaming platforms.

CONCERT CALENDAR
Hoboken’s Rio The Messenger and Jersey City’s Alexander Yearns will both release albums later this month, but you can get an advance listen this weekend at Union City’s Green Space Studiod. Rio The Messenger, AKA Emily Turonis, will be previewing songs from “Heat Vision,” and Alexander Yearns will perform his new release, “Live In Jersey City,” in full. Also appearing will be singer/songwriter and guitarist Aren Flower, who recently performed with Shakira at MTV’s Video Music Awards. Green Space Studios is located at 543 40th Street, Union City. Showtime is 7 p.m. and admission is free (donations welcome.)