About The Six Parts Seven

The Six Parts Seven was formed in 1996 by brothers Allen Karpinski and Jay Karpinski (playing guitar and drums, respectively), who had earlier played with Old Hearts Club, a band of similar style (but with vocals). Most of the group's music is instrumental, featuring "clean" (undistorted) electric guitars, electric bass, and drums, as well as lap steel guitar, viola, and occasionally also piano or vibraphone. Their songs are usually crafted combining single-note melodic lines, rather than relying primarily on strummed chords. Most songs are slow, subdued, and introspective, calling to mind the sound of similarly restrained groups such as Bedhead and Low, as well as Louisville groups such as Slint and Rodan. Songs are often long (over five minutes), featuring much repetition and little contrast, creating a meditative atmosphere. Though the drumming of Jay Karpinski is often syncopated and jazzy, the group favors duple meter as opposed to the more complex meters favored by math rock bands. The Six Parts Seven's precise, intricate pattern-based sound also calls to mind the work of King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp as well as minimalist composers such as Steve Reich. The band's name is apparently based on a literary reference. Although its name is similar, The Six Parts Seven should not be confused with the British band Six By Seven. The group has toured the United States several times and since the early 21st century its music has been used frequently by National Public Radio's All Things Considered news program as between-segment music.