You’ve got to give Pangaea their props. Not every band would try their hand at covering a Beatles classic. Over a half century since they first wowed global audiences the Fab Four remain a cultural touchstone for musicians and listeners across generational lines. “Come Together” may not possess the impact of other Beatles fare such as “Revolution”, “Hey Jude”, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, or several other lionized cuts, but it ranks high, and tackling its long legacy isn’t a cakewalk.
Pangaea doesn’t shirk from the challenge. The Georgia-based septet applies a broad synthesis of musical textures to this venerable warhorse. They let their creativity roam free in their efforts to remake the cut. It is a careful balancing act between staying faithful to the original and refurbishing the song’s assorted parts for a modern audience. Pangaea does that and never loses their balance.
They put their stamp on the song vocally. Scores of music listeners rightly regard John Lennon as one of rock music’s most recognizable voices. It is wise that Pangaea never tries to produce a carbon copy of his performance. Instead, the band embraces the spirit of Lennon’s original while altering the phrasing in low-key yet meaningful ways. The vocal melody exhibits other less-than-obvious variances in his performance. Many of the stresses fall in different places, and spontaneous vocal touches twist Pangaea’s vocals in unexpected ways.
Adding horns is a bold move. The Beatles’ sinewy and spartan take on the song transforms into a vibrant jazz-fusion arrangement that doesn’t forget to rock as well. Guitarist Juilo Miranda keeps the tough-as-nails sensibility of the original intact, in his fashion, but the horns enhance the dramatic lift of the song’s chorus and blaze away during the instrumental break. Brian Lopes’ sax and Justin Powell’s declamatory trumpet are memorable parts of the greater whole.
The rhythm section is a lithe and polyrhythmic highlight. Bassist Joe Reda and drummer Terry Dillard are the centerpiece element, and accents courtesy of percussionist Frankie Quinones and conga player Chris Nettuno bring wider dimensions to the song’s rhythmic thrust. They create a spectacular echo of the original song’s groove that stands on its own as an individual and collective achievement.
Pangaea’s “Come Together” also benefits from clear and muscular production. Each aspect of the performance achieves a perfect balance with the other. The seven-piece emerges from the mix as a full-bodied band, playing together, rather than a collection of soloists uneasily fitting together. There’s no mistaking the skill level of each player; they can garner the lion’s share of attention on their own. Nevertheless, it isn’t what Pangaea is about. This is a band, and they demand to be heard as such.
This single goes a step further. It should stoke the listener’s interest in the band’s originals. They play with such fluid grace and assertive skill that it sounds like there isn’t anything they can’t do. Pangaea’s “Come Together” is more than just a cover; it’s a band claiming a piece of history as their own.
Jodi Marxbury