100 Bands in 100 Days Presented by Verity Credit Union — Day 8: Jan Koekepan

Please check out Verity Credit Union, our great partner in the 100 Bands in 100 Days local music showcase.

Music fans of the Pacific Northwest, get ready for our fourth annual year-end daily local music showcase, 100 Bands in 100 Days, where every day until December 31st, we’re showcasing a new band or artist you have to know about, presented by Verity Credit Union. Make sure you are checking the #100Bands100Days hashtag at Twitter on the daily to stay on top of all the bands featured and make sure to follow Verity on Twitter and NW_Music_Scene as well. Some days the featured act could be an established and locally-adored northwest-based musician and other times they could be a band with a small following that just hasn’t had their deserved time in the sun yet. Either way, we’re fairly confident you can come away from this daily segment with plenty of new favorites. Today’s featured artist is Jan Koekepan from the foothills of the cascades, east of Chehalis.  

One of the most intriguing albums that has been sent to us this year is from today’s artist. We reviewed Depths by Jan Koekepan back in early July and we still revisit it from time to time and we have a funny feeling we’ll continue to do that.

Here’s some of what we said about the album in the review:

Depths, an introspective ambient narrative about the ocean zones (out now on Bandcamp), ignites wonder for those intrigued with the oceans remote expanses. Jan Koekepan, not a stranger to the concept album (check out Colony Flight), soundtracks a journey into the ocean, but instead of a cinematic adventure, Koekepan offers solitude and mystery.

“Waves” meanders with a crystalline sparkle. Incredibly gentle synths rise and fall. The ominous drone washes as far as the mind can see. Subtle, rhythmic lifts from sparsely played keys mimic the dance of Poseidon’s swirling trident. This isn’t beachside accompaniment. The undercurrent is too dark, too suggestive for a Mai Thai and drink umbrellas.

As the album progresses, Koekepan navigates listeners deeper into Atlantean space. “Twilight” beeps; representing a flicker of life, among a densely sequenced sea of time while “Abyssal” is more planetary induced. The cavernous rumbles, shifting layers, and brightly colored flourishes remind the listener living entities do dwell in such darkness. “Bathyal” actually sounds and feels like being submerged in inescapable water. The vocal manipulations pulse and bounce around created emptiness. The shadowy reaches of Ursula’s tentacles gently tug, sinking you deeper into the blackest of holes.