William Covert has today premiered his new and third album titled ‘Dream Vessel’. Experimentation as a format with a feeling of freeform thought as the originator, ‘Dream Vessel’ is a set of songs that let the heart go and the mind race. Think of the process that made this as coming from that golden era of rock music when bands jammed and minds escaped. Not following the tight constraints of the assembly line hitmakers, yet retaining that feeling of being something big.

While each track goes into it’s own direction, collectively, there is a pure concept. An open airspace of sound and beat not following the mainstream but becoming the mainstay. This is what makes this an immersive listen. You never figure out where the music goes but always become satisfied after you get where it’s headed.

Consider this a lesson in the possibilities of music.

About William Covert

After more than 15 years of drumming in math rock, post-rock, and post-hardcore bands, William Covert began experimenting with live-looped synths alongside acoustic and electronic drums. This experimentation birthed two full-length solo albums characterized by post-rock and krautrock-inspired synth loops and melodies, all performed solo with loop pedals and sequencers. “I wanted my third solo album to go in a different direction with different instrumentation,” – explains Covert discussing the process behind the creation of ‘Dream Vessel’.

The band’s inspiration springs the fearless genre-blending of John Zorn’s and bands such as Naked City and Painkiller alongside the pioneering live improvisations of King Crimson and the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the 1970s. “’Dream Vessel’ is more of a full rock band feel for much of it while going into uncharted musical territory.” – explains William stating that this album serves as a vessel to “experiment with combining abrasive noise rock with free-jazz textures in a band format.”

Joining Covert on drums for half the album’s tracks, longtime collaborators Jack McKevitt (guitar) and Nathan Schenck (bass) perform together as the William Covert Trio. Recorded live and fully improvised in the studio, the William Covert Trio tracks contain no overdubs, capturing the spontaneous and visceral energy of the musicians performing together in the same room. The trio, who also play together in Chicago’s post-hardcore noise rock outfit Tum, bring an aggressive avant-garde noise rock improvisational ethos to the record. “The trio’s approach is rooted in raw energy with loose but deliberate structure,” states Covert, equally inspired by both Don Caballero and Last Exit.

While the first part of the record became a group effort for Covert, the other half was performed entirely solo, diving deep into cinematic ambient soundscapes, dreamy Frippertronic-influenced guitars, modular synth, and free-jazz drumming filtered through a post-industrial lens. These compositions immerse themselves in meticulously layered sound design with nods to slowcore and minimalist post-rock, providing a dynamic contrast to the trio’s raw intensity.

Featured image by Tommy Calderon.

LINKS:
https://wmcovert.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wmcovert/
https://www.instagram.com/william.p.covert/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/39nCVn4v1FkNIvsy7gjmR9