Andrew Levin is a musician based in Oakland and has recently released via major streaming platforms such as Spotify & iTunes an EP, Alone, In A Room, With Hope, described as appealing to fans of artists such as The Mars Volta and similar experimental music.

Levin has worked with industry giants such as GRAMMY® Award-winning Fantastic Negrito, Mavis Staples, and the San Francisco Symphony. This is my first introduction to his music, and it is another collection of music written and produced during the lockdown period, a time which, if nothing else, will be remembered for an explosion in creativity amongst our artists.

There are five tracks here, so let’s explore them and embed a couple for your initial foray into this interesting artist’s work.

First up is Our World Is Choking, and I gather that this statement is particularly resonant with residents of Levin’s locality, given the high temperatures and distinct lack of rain. There are some fine riffs on this in a track with a distinctly stoner vibe to these ears. It is embedded below. What I would say is that, in parts, the music, which I enjoy, could perhaps benefit from the services of an experienced mixing professional.

Next up, we are invited to Pray for San Francisco, which has some lush acoustic guitar and a fine melodic bassline underscoring it. The vocals when they enter are deep, but as the piece develops are melodious and halfway in, the mood changes to that of something which, in its understated manner, is almost anthemic. I like it as a piece of solo Americana.

You’re An Artist follows and kicks off with a real electronic funk groove, about as disparate from what came before it as it is possible to get. There is some more classy guitar work on this, and Levin is clearly very adept in what I take to be a somewhat self-deprecating song written during those mad months staring at oneself in the confines of the suffocating home. The final minutes provides for a spacey psych kind of groove with TV/Radio voices in the background. Different, and certainly interesting.

Faster To Your grave is a title not particularly reflecting my personal life wishes. It has a distinct post punk vibe to it and has anger within its social statements, but, again, I think it would benefit from something maybe a bit deeper, such as bandmates taking the intensity to the next level. As it is, the force of it can be recognised, but needs more oomph to my ears.

The final piece is Atomic Family, and I think the best is saved until last, a song which absolutely showcases the potential of Levin to take his project to the next recording and publishing level. The bass guitar on this track is wonderful, the change of tempo and the noises produced just short of three minutes in with some more fine guitar work are very good, and there is real emotion with commercial sensibilities therein. It is embedded below.

This website loves listening to new music produced by younger artists. As is said on Progzilla Radio, prog is not just for dinosaurs, and in Levin I hear someone with real talent prepared to put a truly eclectic set of pieces out there, someone who is impossible to classify, really, and that is never a bad thing. My comments regarding the depth of the sound, both in the mixing and particularly with I think the benefits wider band collaboration would bring, are said in a positive spirit to an artist I wish all the best in this and future endeavours. Most certainly, I am happy to recommend you take yourself to your favourite streaming service and give the whole work a “spin”. His website which contains links to his projects is also worth a visit at https://www.andrewlevinsounds.com/