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His number-one influence? "Sunshine hitting you just right when you are about to jump off a bridge." In March 2005, Ryan FK Heise was on the ledge of a notional bridge and called it quits with his band, System and Station, but by April 2006, Heise saw some sunlight in the form of new dedicated band members and fan-driven enthusiasm. His optimism filtered into his songwriting, and the rebirth of System and Stations’ creativity is showcased in the appropriately titled album Here is Now.
In their new line-up, System and Station have a keen ability to find balance, not only with the music itself but also between the four musicians. On the second song, “When You’re the Witness,” drummer Adam Draper strikes a fierce beat to open the song, followed by guitarist Palmer Cloud, who plays blues-infused chords and remarkable guitar lines over Mark Mattrey’s unremitting bass. Heise’s vocals and keys blend with the song flawlessly; the parts meld seamlessly. The virtuosity continues throughout the album on songs like “Ghosts,” which includes a dizzying guitar solo, “Follow Your Arrow,” which has a soaring pop melody, and “Give Us a Sign,” a more straightforward anthemic rock opus. No one member acts as maestro and the symphony of parts creates something powerful.
Heise describes the music as their own piece to a mysterious puzzle, with limitless evolutions. System and Station’s resistance to classifying their own music (they prefer answering with “we’re a rock band” to keep it simple) helped them play with such varied artists as Marky Ramone, Alex Chilton, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Caustic Resin, and Sir Mix- A-Lot. These guys are survivors on the road, enduring breakdowns in 20-degree weather, trampoline accidents, and strange encounters involving nuns and pants-less men at the Continental in New York (all stories to be told over a bottle of whiskey).
With lyrics about blind faith, evolution, karma and love, not to mention self-reflection and hope, System and Station are able to connect with audiences of all kinds—in all genres. “The point would be to make beautiful paintings and sometimes ugly paintings, but never, never, never mediocre paintings,” Heise explains.
Latest Flame Records will release Here is Now on September 12, 2006. The release marks a new era of accomplishment from Heise and company. System and Station is poised for a phoenix-like resurrection, and these hard-working road dogs deserve every bit of that kind of sunshine.
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