Pangaea’s version of “Come Together” filters The Beatles working in hard-edged rock mode through a jazz fusion consciousness. It comes out great and, most importantly, distinct. You won’t hear a whiff of this Georgia septet trying to mimic the Fab Four except in the most cursory of ways. They remain faithful to the original in many respects. There’s no tinkering with the lyrics, and the song’s basic trajectory stays intact. It’s essentially where the similarities end.
Keen-eared listeners familiar with the original will note the glaring differences. The musical introduction is longer; vocals don’t arise in “Come Together” at the same point as they do in The Beatles’ version. It gives Pangaea’s “Come Together” a more jam-oriented feel, a sense of exploration, without moving too far afield from the composition’s core strengths. Another of those core strengths that stands out is the band’s insistence on following the same groove established in the original.
The horn section of trumpet player Justin Powell and saxophone maven Brian Lopes lend an exclamative edge to the song’s climatic chorus. However, it’s during the song’s instrumental break when the duo takes flight. They pair well with guitarist Julio Miranda, and the three-pronged attack imbues “Come Together” with a very different spirit than the comparatively stripped-down accompaniment provided for The Beatles’ original.
Some listeners will prefer vocals shorn of any production gimmickry, but Pangaea’s singing for this cut carries out its mission. It bristles and crackles with verve without ever overplaying its hand. The image-driven free associations of Lennon’s lyrics still play well for modern listeners, if still obscure, but it remains a prime example of rock lyrics that are less about what you’re singing rather than how you sing it. They pack a lot of punch.
Pangaea structures this track in such a way that it could likely be extended for live performance. Their re-arrangement of “Come Together” has open-ended qualities that the recorded version hints at, but never explores in earnest. The single never bites off more than it can chew. Pangaea’s seven musicians bring an unwavering focus to the performance that doesn’t exhibit an ounce of fat and holds the listener’s attention from beginning to end.
The Georgia band has made a name touring throughout their home territory with forays into the neighboring states. “Come Together” opens more avenues for them to play further away from home. It isn’t music with limited appeal. Jazz aficionados will appreciate what Pangaea is doing here, but the band can net a broad array of fans. You can’t pigeonhole their sound or intentions.
Attributes such as that will serve them well in the future. Pangaea has elastic potential that defies easy categorization and lends its talents to a wide variety of styles. They are equally adept at playing Latin-flavored music, rock, and pop, among other genres, and they are only scratching the surface of their capabilities with this new single. Nevertheless, “Come Together” is a winner that will grow their fanbase and spread their renown further than before.
Clay Burton