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Despite Spartan recording conditions apparently (you would never ever guess by listening to these sumptuous songs), a rolling band membership (one member out, two in during the ‘three years in the making of’ marathon), this is a very accomplished piece of work. This six piece have somehow managed to make it sound as if an awful lot has been lavished upon bringing it to fruition. As I am led to believe they made it in various holes in the ground, without food and water. Admittedly, they cut their teeth on an E.P. release prior to this startling 12 track album, and from what I have read it is in a similar vein, although I doubt any of those previous six tracks on As Of Now: No Guarantees For Later would have improved on what we have here (which doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t like to hear them sometime!). By the second song “In A House Rebuilding” we have heard all manner of programming and field recording, plus piano, violin, glockenspiel, and the most exquisite trumpet. It’s a good mix too, as none of it, at any point, interferes with the two main vocalists, Jim O’Neill and John Paterson, who continually rise to the task of putting these songs to bed. If you think you would like a little bit of song-based Radiohead influence, mixed with a hint of prog, but with a little more straightforward charm and slightly more direct music, then this very appealing set of tunes is definitely for you. |
