By Rachel Jeffers
Staff Writer
After two years of work, former Corban student Ben Dial – using the handle “Inseparable” – has released an album. His album “Eternal Aesthetics” represents hours of preparation, hard work and thought. The entire album, other than vocal accompaniment by Rachel Anna, is made up of layered tracks featuring Dial on different instruments.
The album opens with the song “Time Bomb.” The ambient introduction uses only a synthesizer, and ticking sounds making the title appropriate. Moving into the song, listeners will be delightfully surprised by chorale sounds similar to Arcade Fire. With such a strong introduction, it’s natural to expect an amazing musical experience, but the song turns into another pop tune with anticipated rhyming patterns and repetitive vocal melodies. The remainder of the album brings slight middle-school flashbacks with vocals similar to bands like New Found Glory.
Though almost over-infused with effects, “Eternal Aesthetics’’” strong points are the uniquely layered instrumental melodies. Brilliantly simple piano parts pop out throughout the album, especially present in the introduction to “Crash.” Musical moments such as these leave listeners wanting more but, at times throughout the album, settling for less.
Dial’s goal is to make the album “an avenue to bring the love of Christ to the lost.” Does he achieve his goal? Through his lyrics and unique style, the desired audience should be aware of his strong message. However, though the album presents glimpses of musicality and originality it does not separate itself from the other Christian rock out there. A strong message, like the lyrics in “Eternal Aesthetics” will definitely tell a story, but will the lost listen?
It is important for Christians to stand firm in their beliefs, and Dial asks the important questions. For example, in “Live to Breathe,” there is a line, “when you live to die instead of die to live.” This is a great example of alluding to “something more” without shoving it down listeners’ throats – a good approach to reaching out.
The music-making process is a long journey, and it will be exciting to see where Inseparable goes with the next album.
Inseparable (Ben Dial) will be playing in the Coffee Shop on Friday night from seven to nine. He will be selling CDs for anyone interested. Free downloads of his music are also available at www.purevolume.com/inseparable