
We can adapt quite easily. I have plenty of post rock releases to fill the musical part of the void left behind by the cancellation but I will surely miss the conversations, the laughter and that delicious chili con carne. I will miss the walks in the forest and I will miss the sweet people. Still, I'm not crying.
In 2016, English band Flies Are Spies From Hell were allowed to open the third day of the festival. I named them the best opener of the three and I remember enjoying their emotional, piano-driven post rock. Several years have passed since then and the band returns with a new album, one I would have loved to witness live. With an album like 'Final Quiet' it's only a matter of time before they will come back to Zottegem because let's just face it: 'Final Quiet' is a beautiful post rock statement.
The album starts with 'Nearly Saw A Light'. I think they could not have chosen a better track to kick off this post rock galore. Everything you need is there. The melancholic piano, the dreamy guitars, the solid rhythm section. When I first played this track a few days ago, I became overwhelmed with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Since then, I've played this album a few times and the track still gets me every time. Certainly in the piano-driven regions of the genre, 'Nearly Saw A Light' is one of the best tunes I've heard in years.
Somehow, Flies Are Spies From Hell easily manage to maintain that quality throughout the entire album, once again highlighting in the emotional sonic adventure that is 'Always Bereaved'. This track is the diesel-motor of post rock: starting slow and subdued but gradually evolving into something epic, something fans of everything between Mono, Maybeshewill and God Is An Astronaut will definitely appreciate. There is also a sense of melodic doom metal hidden in between the notes which I think is pretty awesome.
Yet, I was thinking. Perhaps I adore this album so much because it reflects what I, and with me a whole bunch of other people, can't have this year: that event in Zottegem. Thinking about and listening to the breathtaking melody in 'All The Smiles At Night' finally made me weep like a little child. This is the power of music, and as far as the emotional aspect is concerned, Flies Are Spies From Hell are masterminds. 'Final Quiet' is a must-have for every post rock fan, one to cherish and enjoy for years to come.
Serge