Mark Owen and Cam Tyler step from behind the boards long enough to collaborate as Cryptic Cadet. Respected producer and keyboardist Owen and Tyler, a successful producer and drummer, have a powerful knack for shifting genres, yet put together accessible, catchy melodies on the newly released Disconnected.
“Rainy Day” covers the bases with inventive keyboard work, jazzy rhythm, and inviting hooks. “Eyes Not My Own” exposes the duet’s pop sensibilities. Tyler’s rhythm track is hypnotic, while Owen’s synthesizers ignore the obvious with his melodic soloing and inciting tones.
Former Tedeschi-Trucks bassist Tim Lefevre provides a solid bottom through to the closing “Undoable,” while vocalist Olivia Rubini adds to the mystic on Cryptic Cadet’s well-crafted seven-song album.
Disconnected seems to have many elements connected by tight pop melodies and solid musicianship, yet it leaves me wanting more. Perhaps that is the intent.
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