William Covert’s ‘Dream Vessel’ Opens with ‘Trancers,’ a Hypnotic Collision
Will Covert’s new album, ‘Dream Vessel’, kicks things off with a track that keeps you on your toes from the very first second.
You’re immediately dropped into a world where jagged rhythms crash against a dreamy soundscape. Covert’s drumming is sharp and feverish, holding everything down as the guitar and bass carve out crooked lines. The interplay snaps into being like a spark in dry tinder, born from the studio gathering that leaves the music humming with a feral current.
Rather than smoothing ideas into safe patterns, the piece thrives on friction. Abrasive guitar tones crash into deep bass lines, while Covert’s rhythms weave in and out with shifting intensity. There is a clear dialogue between the players, a give-and-take that refuses to settle but never loses focus. The effect is purposeful, driving the track forward with instinctive momentum.
What makes ‘Trancers’ especially gripping is how it balances density with space. Moments of near silence create tension before explosive bursts of energy reclaim the room. In just a few minutes, Covert and his trio sketch out a world where anything can happen, daring the listener to step fully inside.
“The idea of ‘Trancers’ was to make a song that sounds like the instrumental psychedelic post-rock that was commonly used on 90’s underground VHS skateboarding videos. The song is based around the drum groove, which was intended to be meditative and trance-like and allowed the washed-out guitar and minimalist bass to ebb and flow around the drums to build up the song. “Trancers” was recorded live in the studio with no overdubs, and is influenced by the improvisational spirit of 1970’s King Crimson as well as contemporary minimalist avant-garde rock. The song is performed by the William Covert Trio consisting of Covert on drums, Jack McKevitt on guitar, and Nate Schenck on bass. The William Covert Trio perform as kind of a “hidden” band on the new album ‘Dream Vessel,’ with ‘Trancers’ being one of three songs on the album performed by the trio.”
Photo by Jack McKevitt
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