Back in 2006, armed with just a plane ticket and a miniature acoustic guitar, Californian musician Zank took off to backpack the world. It was certainly the journey of a lifetime, the one we all talk of making but few seem to achieve.
As he travelled from place to place on his epic 18 month journey he would often find himself staring at the passing terrain, notebook and guitar in hand. When he finally returned, wiser, and richer for the experience, he began to set his reflections to music. Without A Bridge is the result.
Words became melody and evolved into songs that capture some of the tapestry and diversity of the world that he saw and experienced first hand. Music opened many doors for him, as it always does. A guitar is, after all, an international key and it helped him connect with people all over the world.
Zank has been around the music industry for as long as he can remember. With a style reminiscent of Pete Yorn, and Mat Kearney, he writes of life’s experiences with his heart on his honest sleeve. The album's artwork shows him out on the road, thumbing a lift, playing guitar as more scenery drifts past his railway carriage.
Music is at its most effective when drawn from real life experience. It was a journey that formed relationships with people and places, which by its very nature would prove to be transient. Maybe that is why so many of us just stay at home. It is sometimes just too painful saying goodbye.
It did however give Zank a whole well of emotion and experience to write from. Without A Bridge opens with a strong statement of intent with “Sorry”. ‘Sorry but I’m not coming home today’ he sings from some motel room somewhere in the world as his journey begins. It’s emotive stuff carried home by Zank’s powerful vocals and guitar.
The memorable hook that is the chorus of “How It Feels Right Now” is delivered with a great deal of honesty. Even at this early stage it is clear that this is an album full of passion. It is a passion for life, passion for the trip, and all of this is transferred into the music.
“The Last Car Ride” confirms that this is most definitely a road album. In this case as the journey was coming to an end. In the album notes Zank explains that when he sat down and went through his notes written whilst travelling, ‘slowly, songs began to take shape. Ideas and melodies became verses and choruses’. Powerful visual images are successfully transferred from Zank’s notebook, camera, and memory into the songs that make this album.
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Article comments
1 - Zank
Jeff,
Thank you so much for such a personal and thorough review of Without a Bridge.
It is rare that a person who is clearly busy listening to all sorts of CDs takes the time to really listen and sort out the details before putting pen to paper, so to speak :)
Your insight is fascinating.
Thank you.
-Zank