Sholi pieces together memories in self-titled album

Bavafa uses his experiences from a sleep clinic to inspire the album.

By Tom Carbone

Published Feb. 23, 2009

Correction appended

Earlier in the decade, Payam Bavafa and Jonathon Bafus probably didn't expect their University of California-Davis late-night jam sessions to turn into anything more than that. But a few years later -- and with a ton of recording experience under their belt -- they are ready to hit America with a unique blend of math-y post-rock. Adding bassist Eric Ruud shortly after playing a few shows, the band took the name Sholi after a word Bavafa's father used to say to him in his childhood. After playing with a few different members during their time at UC Davis, they gained a bit of notoriety around that area of California.

Bavafa then moved to San Francisco to start working as a scientist in an experimental neuroscience lab studying sleep patterns and brain waves involving memory. He probably did not expect it, but his time spent in the lab really leaked into his real passion for songwriting. This was especially evident in the band's EP released last year, entitled Dreams Before People. But the sleep inspiration and imagery certainly did not end last year. Produced by Deerhoof drummer Greg Saunier, this self-titled debut keeps some of the themes of the EP alive.

The first track on the California band's self-titled debut involves similar themes lyrically and sonically. "All That We Can See" starts off with a simple guitar pattern and some free-jazz percussion. As the song progresses, so does the cacophony of the track. "Dina, Dina passing through me/Two years at a time with each blink," Bavafa yelps toward the end of the track in a comfortable-yet-concerned effort. The past year spent in this sleep clinic has clearly affected Bavafa in an interesting way. Many of his songs now revolve around the experiences he had there and his way of piecing them together in an intricate fashion is simply mind-boggling.

"November Through June," sounds a bit like a punk track but with Thom Yorke-esque vocals. Also included in the song are some more of lead singer Payam Bavafa's job-influenced lyrics. "They separate us in these rooms suffocate the Deep, eat the self-consumed," Bavfa explains in a very complex and upbeat instrumentation. The imagery he and the band members produce with simple words and instrumentals is unrivaled. Yes, his lyrics are more explanatory and up front than guitars and drums, but the dissonant nature of the tracks makes them flow much nicer.

The album ends as abruptly as it started, with a very noisy track, "Contortionist" finishing it off. Clocking in at more than seven minutes, the song combines a lot of the same elements seen earlier throughout the album to create a long, sprawling track. Bavafa sounds more like Thom Yorke here than anywhere else, and it suits him well.

For a full-length debut, Sholi has done a magnificent job piecing together strewn memories from over the years into a complex album worthy of many listens. Between Bavafa's sleep-study influenced lyrics and the rest of the bands math-rock complexities, Sholi has created a memorable album for 2009.