NORTHPILOT is a flyer. (I seem to have a fixation on planes this week.)  They simply know how to fly. With the opening notes on the keyboards, a small quartet of flutes, and then the piano joining in with the honest conviction, their new single, 1000lives, takes off. The melody is simply sung at first, and more mindful of an indie/alternative boundary than the instruments that follow behind.

By the time we reach the chorus, the band is in full swing and the keyboards are leading the way. Here is our true northpilot for this song. She is in control of our flight, with vocal harmonies accompanying  in lush abandonment of any indie standard. We are flown high into the atmosphere, sailing away into a dreamy progressive keyboard sky.

See if you agree..listen to these three snippets from the song.

The first is the opening I described…

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Now listen to this soft bridge as it builds back into the next verse…I think I even hear King Crimson in the last few notes before the clip ends..listen closely!

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Finally, we reach the final chorus and the entire band is now soaring, guitars, drums, keyboards and multiple vocals…

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This is a very well constructed indie rock song, with dream prog overtones running through out. I wouldn’t go as far as to label it dream prog or symphonic prog- I think they want to be an Indie Art band but I doubt their keyboardist, Danielle Schnurer, will ever let them.  I am definitely looking forward to an entire album of NORTHPILOT music.

You can download 100lives for free right now and I suggest you do that soon.  

One final mention about their website.  It is beautifully designed and arranged, and very easy to navigate.  Well done, NORTHPILOT, nice flying.

NORTHPILOT:

Travis Shaver – vocals, guitar
Dan Julian– percussion
Matt Cragnolin – vocals, bass guitar
Justin Vittori – guitar
Danielle Schnurer – vocals, keys