One steadfast rule that Disaster Amnesiac follows: if a person presents me with music that they're involved in producing, it must be described herein. It's close to one hundred percent of the time that the time spent listening to these productions is pleasurable time spent. This, on account of staying close to underground scenes, as close as can be had. So many micro-scenes, so many niche scenes, so many people of so many age ranges out there making music and sounds; if their music can be heard by me, the happier I feel. Back to said presentations: some weeks back a member of How To Build A Rocketship, John Matzek, presented me with this band's 2023 release entitled Hovers + Vanishes. John described to me the evolution of the band and as recalled he, Mario Cordova, Jason Garthwait and Ernest Natiello began jamming together as teens in the early 1990's. Their musical links must have remained strong over the three decades before recording the tunes that comprise this album, for they achieved strong, band-centered tracks all over it. It kicks off with the slinky, grooving Troubadour music of I Declare War, a song enhanced with interesting guitar tones. King Fool follows as track number two. School house rockin' with percussive overdubs! The bass guitar really carries the melody of a song with lyrics love lorn and wiser. The crooner of this one probably will go through it again if those lyrics are to be believed. Cutting guitar tones and a pulsing groove stroll together on Come Cry In My Arms, which has been perceived as a story about disappointment. Pointed questions are asked as the chord progression moves forward. Even the heartiest revolutionaries get weary. An imagined Spring morning in Lubbock TX in 1954 presented itself during hearings of Marco Polo. Minimalist percussion allows the melodic form and structure to be appreciated. Is that a poetic description of Tucson sunsets. Tight rhythm section work and beautiful burbling tones. Travel to Berlin, 1977 for the jaunty Atoms, as the freedom to collapse is explored within its words. Astute production sense is on display with the effective fadeout for this one. The pace is slowed down for July, and that brings up moody feels as interesting guitar pedal effects are utilized. Break up song vibes and the somewhat ambivalent ending portion sits right in with that flow. Side two of this lovely piece of robin egg blue splatter vinyl starts with Cast Fireball, which has a very dramatic opening part. Metallic chords support a piece that has a soundtrack-ey, Sci Fi sense. Its instrumental are pleasing. Big Pop moves splash around on Recline Racer and there is cowbell! Naturally that's a hit around my turntable! Fuzzy six strings rub all over it, too. Sad tones and more of that world weariness pair up on Salt In The Cut. Lyrical themes that give a sense of the sads lead to bursting chords and an uplifting, dramatic flourish during instrumental passages. A compassionate soft landing is provided by How To Build A Rocketship, showing that this group of players were not afraid of some musical intimacy. That's a good thing. Cool (as in aesthetics) guitar tones and roomy spaces are investigated on Something Else. It's a laid back Pop Progressive tune. Another serving of dreamy Pop comes with Chowderhead. This is the one track on Hovers + Vanishes that feels a bit unfinished, but don't fret because Our Daily Meds brings the bar back up. Down tempo Emo with drama sounds and more of the adept band playing that's all over the LP. Tight, quick end also. Argonauts concludes the disc and it starts out Psych-ful before it drifts into a more text based arrangement that provides an emotionally suitable release from a writer that does not shy away from the more painful aspects of a human experience. Mention must be made fore the production values of Hovers + Vanishes aside from its music. Its tones were exceptionally captured within the engineering process of Jim Waters, and as physical object it's visually and tactilely satisfying. How To Build A Rocketship certainly built a good 'un with it.
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