Rooftops

Make way for the math rock

By Nick Dillon · Wednesday, November 18, 2009

On November 17th, Bellingham will see the release of Rooftops’ debut album A Forest of Polarity. The record begins with guitar and percussion rewinding in a beautiful, kaleidoscopic sound collage before the listener is assaulted with air-tight drum hits and frenetic guitar tapping. The gravity eventually gives in to harmonious pop guitar interplay, while the drums go back and forth between hypnotic dirges and head-nodding grooves. All this in the first three tracks.

Rooftops has been making waves in Bellingham since spring 2007. The original lineup was comprised of Mark Detrick and Drew Fitchette on guitar, along with Wendelin Wohlgemuth on drums. They quickly garnered attention around town with their signature take on math rock, a subgenre of rock ’n’ roll that incorporates elements of jazz and classical music while relying heavily on time signature changes.

Virtuosic musicianship aside, they also display a trained ear for melody that makes their music instantly enjoyable. Remaining a largely instrumental band was not necessarily the original plan, and in 2008 local songwriter Jonathon McIntyre joined the group. McIntyre has collaborated with Detrick in various groups for nearly 10 years, and he jumped at the chance to join Rooftops.

“They told me it was because they wanted to make their sound more accessible, but I just wanted to play with them,” McIntyre says.

It soon became evident the addition was an inpsired choice. McIntyre added sparse vocal arrangements and a third guitar, which round out the band’s current configuration.

Anyone who has seen Rooftops live can attest to the musical prowess this band contains; Detrick, Fitchette, and McIntyre exchange intricate guitar lines to an almost disorienting effect, while Wohlgemuth utilizes both standard 4/4 pop beats and complex polyrhythms. Their live show is a fascinating spectacle, as all four members play multifaceted parts that require the human ear to kick into overdrive.

But Rooftops as a live entity and a studio entity are two very different things. “A big difference is the energy of the live show being much higher while the album is much more textured and layered,” says Fitchette.

This brings us back to the album, A Forest of Polarity. Their debut record contains an impressive talent for composition and production, with musicians Kat Bula, Sarah Jerns, and Dylan Rieck contributing string and horn overdubs. “Strings, bass, horns and percussion really add expression and fullness that doesn’t come through live,” Wolhgemuth says.
Working with Clickpop Records’ Paul Turpin at Bayside Recording, the band often remained in the studio for five to six hours a day to make sure the mix and production were just right.

“We are really happy with the way [the album] progresses,” Detrick says. “It starts out with a certain kind of frenetic energy and gradually becomes more coherent, incorporating the auxiliary instrumentation and more drawn-out melodies.” The record is deliberately sequenced and arranged to create a singular listening experience that is both challenging and accessible. Focusing on individual tracks becomes obsolete, as various compositions and melodies rise and then disappear, only to resurface again in unexpected places.

Rooftops will play two CD release shows, the first, Fri., Nov. 20 at the Rogue Hero, will showcase all of the musicians who played on A Forest of Polarity. This will be followed by another, all-ages release show Sun., Nov. 22 at Everyday Music. These shows will be the perfect chance to see the band at the height of their powers.