So while in some respects, "Emilie" is not radically different from the original hallmarks of the genre they are considered, it is done with such command and beauty that it impresses from start to finish. It's all so beautifully planned out, nothing sounds forced, but rather like carefully written stories. The changes in the title track alone, from full, heavy rocking to suddenly veering to a hauntingly quiet melody on a piano are simply breathtaking. Big slam dunk on both counts for this listener.
But beyond the instrument choices and playing techniques, what matters is whether the songs connect with you emotionally and are interesting enough for repeated plays. Then the layers start to unfold, each member building step by step with exemplary playing and attention to technique, especially noticeable in the some of the guitar warbling and drumming sustain/ring.
#Inmost dens full#
When the full band finally arrives nearly halfway through the second number, even then they do so with a light touch at first. These moments, along with some ambient sounds like waves or birds, serve to give the album additional color and personality. On to the album, I love the way piano, flute, and strings are incorporated into the album, often given their own space to shine unaccompanied by the rock instruments, including through the entire beautifully melancholic first track - a stunning opener that draws you in. I'm not that big on video outside of live performance, but this one was completely enjoyable. Vibrancy, confusion, youth, death, innocence, suffocation, wonder, beauty - so many adjectives spring to mind while watching it.
#Inmost dens professional#
Their video for "Transparent People" is as professional and, more importantly, as breathtaking as 90s European eye-candy films I used to enjoy. Not only is their music cinematic, but the band has mastered the art of video as well.
One should not consider it background music. This is one "post-rock band" more than suitable for active, engaged listening. At the same time, while WhyOceans will also employ some of the narcotic dives and swells so often associated with some of the original post-rock bands, there is much more happening here in the subsets of pastoral beauty, technology, storytelling, and visuals. Instead we are dealing with music that almost commands personal introspection. We cannot latch onto the vocal hook or hide in the instant thrills available with more direct rock and roll tools.
This is a style of music that shoots down musical instant gratification, aiming instead for what I consider the more emotional receptors in our being. While "post-rock" is often ignored by many prog rock fans for being too sleepy or one-dimensional, I've always went out of my way to notice and listen. Their second release, "Inmost Dens of Emilie," is described as "six stories from six scenes with the same origin," and was recorded primarily in Hong Kong. WhyOceans have been around since 2005 and remain one of my favorite instrumental rock bands.
0 kommentar(er)
