post rock
Saturday morning, it's cold, gray and somewhat rainy outside. The summer is definitely behind us now. The festival season has come to an end, only to make place for a plethora of indoor events and concerts. I'm not sure about how many I will attend. Even my summer was rather calm in that aspect. But there is one festival that will always have my full attention. Tucked away in the lovely Flemish Ardennes lives Dunk! Festival. I am sure that the gang is already working on their 2020 edition and I wouldn't be surprised if Czech horde Flash The Readies will be on the line-up again. I wouldn't mind either. I'm sure that it will be another astonishing bill, but you can read my careful predictions in another article soon.
For now I'd like to focus on 'Duna', their fifth album already. Flash The Readies have been evolving since the very beginning, from alternative rock to instrumental rock, heading into the post-scene with an immersive and somewhat psychedelic sound. 'Duna' is the follow-up to their highly acclaimed 2016 full-length 'Kayos'. The album contains five tracks, 'New Order' being the shortest piece, merely three minutes long but full of rage and intensity. It does feel like the apotheosis for the mesmerizing opener 'White Flags, Pt 1', which is a near-perfect post-rock tune, one I can already hear floating over Zottegem.
'Quiet Quiet' is pretty much self-explanatory, at least for a while. With Pink Floyd meets Aidan Baker drones and guitars, this tune digs right into the ambient scene. But even then, do not expect an easy ambient tune, these scapes are relentless, pulsating and impending. They serve as the perfect intro for 'White Flags, Pt 2', my personal favorite on this record and a genre defining post rock tune. You simply can't go wrong with Flash The Readies. In their 13 years of existence, these Czechs have become a force to be reckoned with, delivering high quality music.
The album ends with 'The Return Of Obodin'. Clocking off at 14.43, this is the longest track on 'Duna' and - as most classics in this genre - is a massive statement of the narrative nature of post rock. Once again this track has an elaborate story to tell, using soundscapes, drums and lingering guitars to guide the listener. In fact, perhaps this is my favorite track here. I'm not sure. This is just one of those albums that show how beautiful this music can be and how much a band can grow. I think post rock fans can easily trust Flash The Readies to deliver the goods. 'Duna' is a fantastic album, one that certainly deserves a place in your already huge collection.
Serge
For now I'd like to focus on 'Duna', their fifth album already. Flash The Readies have been evolving since the very beginning, from alternative rock to instrumental rock, heading into the post-scene with an immersive and somewhat psychedelic sound. 'Duna' is the follow-up to their highly acclaimed 2016 full-length 'Kayos'. The album contains five tracks, 'New Order' being the shortest piece, merely three minutes long but full of rage and intensity. It does feel like the apotheosis for the mesmerizing opener 'White Flags, Pt 1', which is a near-perfect post-rock tune, one I can already hear floating over Zottegem.
'Quiet Quiet' is pretty much self-explanatory, at least for a while. With Pink Floyd meets Aidan Baker drones and guitars, this tune digs right into the ambient scene. But even then, do not expect an easy ambient tune, these scapes are relentless, pulsating and impending. They serve as the perfect intro for 'White Flags, Pt 2', my personal favorite on this record and a genre defining post rock tune. You simply can't go wrong with Flash The Readies. In their 13 years of existence, these Czechs have become a force to be reckoned with, delivering high quality music.
The album ends with 'The Return Of Obodin'. Clocking off at 14.43, this is the longest track on 'Duna' and - as most classics in this genre - is a massive statement of the narrative nature of post rock. Once again this track has an elaborate story to tell, using soundscapes, drums and lingering guitars to guide the listener. In fact, perhaps this is my favorite track here. I'm not sure. This is just one of those albums that show how beautiful this music can be and how much a band can grow. I think post rock fans can easily trust Flash The Readies to deliver the goods. 'Duna' is a fantastic album, one that certainly deserves a place in your already huge collection.
Serge
