Producer and engineer Jesse Gimbel recently released his solo album, Decathect, with Wissahickon Records, and by solo I do mean this is literally a one-man band. Gimbel plays guitar and drums, and even records, produces, and shoots some of his own stuff. After researching further, I found various covers by Gimbel. In his “Wrecking Ball” video, Gimbel gives insight into his curious process, using various tools and instruments to create his own rendition.
Decathect opens with “Intro,” an instrumental piece that is the intro to the soft and emotional songs to come. “Move or Move On” picks up the pace and really taps into Gimbel’s signature rock style with strong drums coming in at 1:04. There is no lack of angst and underlying heartbreak here. “Stir Crazy” and “Decathect” keep up the passion while transitioning into “To Another,” which shows a softer side with a harmonizing chant, “When has a heart steered wrong,” followed by a 15-second pause to strengthen the emotion of the piece.
“Don’t Get Comfortable” is Gimbel’s first single to be released, accompanied with a rather abstract music video. It opens with a sleeping brunette in a bright apartment, which contrasts to scenes of her walking through the woods on a dark morning looking rather dapper for an early hike. The video seems to be from Gimbel’s – or her admirer’s – point of view. The abstract aspect comes with the multiple white dots that grow in random places, as if spotlighting certain locations within the video. My first thought was that they resembled the white markers found in the woods to keep track of where you’ve been when hiking, and the video refers to such markers.
The album closes with “Outtro.” As an English major, I love a good play on words. “Outtro” isn’t instrumental like its opposite, “Intro,” rather it ends the album on a hopeful and complete note. Although the album can get slow and maybe a little sad at times, Gimbel lays his heart out, and that takes serious confidence. The album is honest and whole, and we certainly appreciate that.
Nikki grew up in an imitation German town in Georgia by the name of Helen. It wasn’t until middle school that she started to get interested in the arts: painting, music, and writing. She wrote in her diary, sketched in art class and listened to regretful music. By high school, her tastes became a little more refined. She found Fiona Apple, Lou Reed and Giant Drag, and they remain her favorites in college. She was accepted to the University of Georgia in 2012 and is currently majoring in English. Upon moving to Athens from a town with more trees than people, Nikki was a bit overwhelmed. However, there is certainly no lack of inspiration in Athens, and she appreciates its love for the arts and its service as a platform.