(Alternative Rock, Crossover Prog, Fusion) Algernon - Familiar Espionage (WEB) - 2007, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Produced by Algernon
Engineered by Manny Sanchez at IV Lab Studios
Mastered by Dominick Maita

“... The young Chicago quintet...has the instrumentation of something close to a jazz combo... The tunes, all written by twentysomething guitar wunderkind Dave Miller, flutter and bob in surprising patterns, taking advantage of a palate that‘s unquestionably Blue Note–worthy.
And yet... Algernon isn‘t that far from the land of rawk. ...
...toying with the rock versus jazz dichotomy...Tortoise has been challenging its listeners in much the same way... ...before that, Weather Report...and Mahavishnu Orchestra... ...this jazz-rock mind-melt isn‘t post-rock but pre-, an homage of sorts to an era when jazz chops meant something in rock circles (King Crimson, Frank Zappa). But on Espionage, Algernon tweaks the Tortoise model in its own distinct way, opting for hooks over ambience. ...Katie Wiegman, on vibraphone and glockenspiel...gives the group a magical air.”

– Matthew Lurie, Time Out Chicago, Issue 160 : Mar 20–26, 2008, www.timeout.com

“...neopsychedelicpostrockjazz? ... It's the kind of music that is made by Algernon... Familiar Espionage is an all instrumental journey through feedback, blink-and-you-miss-them Beatles melodies, Zappa-inspired vibes, heavy metal outbursts and left field Syd Barrett weirdness. It's that good.”

– Hans Werksman, Here Comes the Flood, February 2008

“...Algernon...draws inspiration from the jazz-tinged post-rock machinations of Tortoise... Using two guitars, bass, drums and a vibraphone, Algernon
combines gorgeous melodies with psychedelic effects and rock beats.”

– Scott Morrow, “Listen here, now”, Chicago Sun Times, June 26, 2008

“... Familiar Espionage successfully captured Algernon's live energy and cemented its modern sound... The group's recordings have also spawned remix
material from local IDM/jazz duo Silences Sumire. ”

– Scott Morrow, Center Stage Chicago, www.centerstagechicago.com

“... Miller...has built this unusual quintet into a sleek roadster, using Katie Wiegman‘s vibraphone to lighten and brighten the sound of the two-stroke jazz-rock engine—Miller and Nick Fryer, both on guitar—that powers the band. Miller draws from jazz and rock (prog, psych, and post-) but also aspires to a kind of latter-day chamber music: tautly composed lines and detailed, surprisingly delicate arrangements butt up against raucous free improvisation and splashy electronics. On Familiar Espionage...the tunes...have a definite post-rock feel, but Miller pushes them into jazzier territory...while avoiding anything that sounds like a traditional jazz solo.”

– Neil Tesser, “Likely Highlights at the Second Annual ears&eyes Festival”, Chicago Reader, December 6, 2007

Dave Miller - guitar, electronics
Nick Fryer - guitar
Katie Wiegman - vibraphone, glockenspiel
Tom Perona - bass
Cory Healey - drums