Incident at Cima

After the original incarnation of Savage Republic went into general stasis during the 1990s, Bruce Licher turned his main musical impulses to the formation of a new band, Scenic, with a goal towards instrumental albums and songs recorded with inspiration from various specific locations. In the case of their full length debut, 1995’s Incident at Cima, that was the east Mojave Desert, and from the start with the slow sweeping moods of “The Shifting Sand” there’s a definite sense of the mysterious at play. By no means is it simply steady atmospherics – “The Kelso Run,” first released as a single the previous year, is in a line of descent from Savage Republic’s intensity and their taking inspiration from all corners, where both Ennio Morricone western soundtracks and surf vibes mix and match. Throughout, the core trio of Licher on guitar, Shiva Burlesque veteran James Brenner on bass and Brock Wirtz on drums effectively create something that works in numerous modes, from acoustic-led pieces like “Down Black Canyon Road,” “Hole In The Wall” and “The Mid Hills” to the shimmering kicks of “On The Dune.”