And that's what I'm here for...
Paderborn, Germany, 2011. Four guys decide to form an indie band and start their journey into the massive forest of rock music. Gradually, influenced by post-rock and shoegaze, they evolved into the moody, atmospheric and immersive band they are today. This album blends those genres, adds hints of progressive rock and some electronic elements and turns the whole into a glorious trip where Radiohead meet Explosions In The Sky meet Slowdive meets Porcupine Tree.
Strange thing is, at first I actually thought this was a purely post-rock album. Although there are some vocals in opener 'Endless Width', they seem hidden behind a wall-of-sound. Yet, when they finally appear on the surface in 'Home', the 'alternative rock' tag certainly comes shining through. The dynamics of the drums, the lingering guitars and the slow but immersive soundscapes, combined with those strong vocals, create some high quality songs.
Highlights are 'Redemption', 'If You Knew' and the earlier mentioned 'Home'. Yet all of the songs on this album effectively alternate between calm, dreamy passages and crushing piece of heavy rock. I have a feeling that we're going to hear more from these guys when the line-ups for the summer festivals are being announced. I certainly hope so, this is a refreshing piece of music in this already interesting scene.
Serge