The self-described “pop” record dips its fingertips into eclectic instrumentation and creative innovation, but never ultimately breaks through the safety of time-tested songwriting and production techniques. Like a scientist who reiterates proven theories or a filmmaker who choreographs an action sequence using moves from The Matrix, Yesan Damen simply shows us that which we recognize.
As the album’s promotional description states, The Never Beginning Story gives the listener an “instant feeling of familiarity within the songs.”
This feeling of familiarity pours forth from the songwriting. Portions of melodies throughout the album will have you racking your brain wondering where you’ve heard this before. That’s quite an ominous comment to make . . . yet warranted: “Promise To Remember” combines an Ash song with Belle & Sebastian; the bridge of “Just A Dream” is from “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper; “Perfect (or so it seems)” ends with the computer bleeps that follow Radiohead’s “Let Down”; “Tonight” is straight from the Christian rock scene; “The Summer Breeze” and the chorus of “Someday” are something . . . I just can’t put my finger on it!
It’s been said there’s a difference between influence and mimicry. Kwak perhaps listened to a Belle & Sebastian recording, then sat down and wrote the chorus for “Promise To Remember.” The album is a pastiche; yet, an unintended pastiche it seems. Without an apparent message or purpose to the familiar melodies, it might be a better guess to say it happened unconsciously.
The Never Beginning Story’s highlight (and a promising intimation of the future) is “Stained Glass”, a song that begins with a single voice and acoustic guitar and builds with every verse, adding new instruments and voices up to a climax of violins, keyboards, timpani, and a pounding military-style snare.
Surely, Daniel Kwak is still finding his voice. When he does, Yesan Damen may very well give us something wonderful that lies a bit outside the box . . . less “familiar.”
If you’re a fan of safe, not-too-hot-not-too-cold-but-just-right rock, then you’ll enjoy The Never Beginning Story.
