CTS in August issue of Relix!

Trio of Influences

Self-described as “Sci-fi Middle Eastern funk that also rocks,” the New York City based instrumental trio Consider the Source – Gabriel Marin (double neck electric fretless guitar and chaturangui), John Ferrara (bass) and Justin Ahiyon (drums and percussion) – delivers effect soacked riffing, spaced out shredding and sitar-like twanging with funky bass and anchoring drums.  From its beginnings as what Ahiyon calls ‘ a totally improvising group,’ the band has drawn upon influences from progressive rock and jazz fusion artists like The Mahavishnu Orchestra and The Bad Plus.  Travel abroad has also impacted the group’s development as Marin explains that, “In a different culture you can understand why music sounds a certain way or why cats play a certain way, so it gets more in your blood.”  The threesome recorded its second full length, Are You Watching Closely? earlier this year which, according to Ahiyon, moves in ‘a new direction incorporating a lot more rhythmic stuff, a lot more melodic stuff.  It’s a little bit more extreme.”