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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Christoper Noyes

Christoper Noyes
Grapheme EP

Album length: 5 tracks: 26 minutes, 47 seconds
Street Date: October 18, 2011


In search of uniqueness and creativity, one would be hard-pressed to point to any band signed on a label. With the popularity of indie artists spiking, even some of the once-original artists are falling prey to trends and formulas. Every once in a while, however, a new artist springs up with a distinctive sound that makes you stop and take notice. 'Peculiar' is the best word to describe Christoper Noyes' music. From the strange instruments to the cryptic lyrics and an off-kilter music video, this is truly something new.

Christoper is a one-man show. All the steps from the initial inspiration to the final product is done by one guy. There are a lot of samples and electronic elements that run throughout the Grapheme EP. You won't hear an abundance of autotuned vocals here and you definitely are not going to be able to identify all the sounds you hear. Scissors, tools, kitchen utensils, and random household objects are just some of the things thrown into the mixes. There are your standard fare of guitars and keyboards, as well. With any of the songs, it is tough to label them with a genre. "Children of the Pyramid Builders," for example, blends electonrica elements with pop hooks, an experimental vibe and a typewriter sample. Even within the individual songs there is a constantly evolving sound that never rests or becomes comfortable.

The lyrics are just as aberrant as the experimental musicianship. In the title track, Christoper says, "On mountain peaks, the plates beneath, When they move, we move, Though all we see are the tree tops or the white snow, Explain the earthquake to the redwood or the foxhole, You could lose your mind." At first listen, some of the songs can come off as ramblings with little direction. Upon careful examination, however, it becomes clear that Christoper is diving into deep, often metaphysical topics while coating on layers of mystery. "You Chose Terra-Cotta Over Tungsten" is a commentary on our prideful human nature, "I am a liar, All broken armed from painting bone hues all my life, Yes I am a liar, And hiding doesn't make me any cleaner, Choking for the image sake I can barely operate, Cast the pavlov-anklets and loose the self-preserving-me, Let me be weak."

While some will applaud the vision, Grapheme is certainly not for everyone; others may find it awkward and even turn away from Noyes' music altogether. The five tracks make for a decent sized EP, running for almost 27 minutes. The debut full-length is currently being written and recorded, and one must wonder where Noyes will take his music next. For a first impression, this is as impactful as it gets.

- Review date: 1/7/12, written by Jerold Wallace of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: None
. Album length: 5 tracks: 26 minutes, 47 seconds
. Street Date: October 18, 2011
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Children of the Pyramid Builders (4:49)
  2. Grapheme (5:20)
  3. Ia (5:52)
  4. Bob, Alice, and Heisenberg (4:45)
  5. You Chose Terra-Cotta Over Tungsten (6:01)

 

 

 

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This Wednesday, August 13, 2025
ALBUMS
Various Artists Songs We've Been Trying To Tell You About (And Others We Haven't), Vol. 14 [JFH Music]

This Friday, August 15, 2025
ALBUMS
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The CCC Collective Brooklyn Culture (independent)
Equippers Worship Awe [DREAM Worship]
The Final Witness Beneath The Altar [Rottweiler]
Grammatrain Flying Collector's Edition CD [Girder]
Grammatrain Lonely House 30th Anniversary Edition CD [Girder]
Katy Nichole Honest Conversations [Centricity]
REFVGE REFVGE 1 [Syntax]
Relentless Pursuit Apocalypsis (independent)
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM]
Joel Vaughn Feel It - EP [DREAM]

SINGLES
ANTHNY no stages - Single [Provident]
Johan Åsgärde Coming Home - Single [Gotee]
Dave Barnes Everything But Mine - Single (independent)
Chris Caro Pain Pt. 3 - Single [Syntax]
Jeff Deyo There is a Fire - Single [NWN]
Drenae Dead Seed - Single [Syntax]
F'rael Pardon My Grace - Single [Syntax]
Jeremy and Adrienne Camp Worthy Of It All / I Exalt Thee (Jeremy and Adrienne Camp Version) - Single [Sparrow]
Linc Worship I Know - Single (independent)
Steven Malcolm All God - Single [Curb]
Jeannie Ortega Little Girl is Gone - Single [Syntax]
outr.cty Testin' Your Luck (ft. Selah the Corner & Dre Murray) - Single [Syntax]
Matt Redman Let Me See Jesus / Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (feat. Charity Gayle) - Single [Integrity]
Rhymes in Harmony Beautiful Name - Single [Syntax]
Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, & Elevation Worship So So Good (Live) - Single [Fair Trade]

VINYL
Grammatrain Flying Vinyl [Girder]
Grammatrain Lonely House 30th Anniversary Edition Vinyl [Girder]
Newsboys Going Public Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, August 22, 2025
ALBUMS
Lecrae Reconstruction [Reach]
Lizzie Morgan Not My Will [Provident]
Josiah Queen MT. ZION [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Dust and Grace Hallelujah - Single [MTS]
Good Weather Forecast Today (feat. Elijah Thomas) - Single [DREAM]
Roxanne Grace Try Again - Single [DREAM]
Mainstream Worship Invitation - Single [DREAM Worship]
V1 Worship Been So Faithful - Single [DREAM Worship]



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