Posted on: January 12, 2011 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The strings, guitars, and other ambient noises that begin “Search and Rescue” will immediately catch the attention of anyone in the room. The intensity of this introduction dovetails well into the meat of the disc’s first track, “Be Right Here”. Fans of a wide swath of artists, be it Hellogoodbye, Fall Out Boy, T-Pain, or even Matt and Kim will be able to dig this eclectic opening. The linking of organic and electronic continues through the EP’s titular track, “Search and Rescue”. Park’s emotive voices gradually lead into soaring guitars and mood-setting drums. Park’s efforts on “Search and Rescue” are interesting in that they are able to improve on a great many of the current sub-genres of rock, punk, and even metal while never losing Park’s own take on things.

“Sparks Fly” is one of my favorite tracks on “Search and Rescue” as it provides a look into a more closed-in and comfortable sound for Park. The track links itself to previous efforts on “Search and Rescue” due to the inclusion of a very atmospheric arrangement playing at the periphery, but those that focus in on the track will be able to envision Park sitting on a bar stool in a crowded coffee house or other local haunt.

Daniel Park’s “Search and Rescue” does a great deal more in establishing his own sound than do many of the full-length efforts by established bands. Each track may only be a few minutes, but each effort is so dense that listeners have to listen a number of times to get everything that Park has placed into the song. Nowhere is this found as well as during the late-disc cut, “Love in Your Hands”. This effort may seem a little on the simple side, but the constituent elements (vocals, guitars, tambourine) all contain a narrative that plays alongside the main one. At the core of “Love in Your Hands” are Park’s vocals, which soars above everything to make fans out of even the most disaffected and dour listeners. Park’s work just gets better each time out – grab a copy of his 2008 “These Illusions” alongside this impressive new EP.

Top Tracks: Be Right Here, Love In Your Hands

Rating: 8.7/10

Daniel Park – Search and Rescue / 2011 Self / 7 Tracks / http://www.danielparkmusic.com / http://www.myspace.com/danielparkmusic

Leave a Comment