erasing clouds
 

Collections of Colonies of Bees, Giving

review by dave heaton

Do people call this type of music "post-rock" any more? If so, someone is calling Giving that (even though it opens with guitar and drums, that well, rock) because it's instrumental music using rock instruments, with long songs (four tracks total, each in the 5-9-minute range). Besides, music writers used to writing about lyrics don't know what to do with instrumental music, except focus on the song titles ("Lawn", "Vorm", "Lawns", "Vorms" - some kind of suburban lawncare music?), repeat the backstory (related to Bon Iver, blah blah blah), make comparisons (Sea and Cake with few vocals and longer songs?) and throw some adjectives at it ("building", "vibrant", "expansive", etc).

But I'm a music writer, too, so I'm in the same boat. What I can tell you is this -

  • They get into a groove, while still doings interesting little things within that groove. "Jamming" in the most focused sense of the word.
  • They take detours but never get far off track. Precise, careful music
  • I feel like I'm in a movie, like each moment is grand and special, while I listen to Giving.
  • Sometimes I think weird things are going on in the background that I can just barely, but never fully, pick up on. Or perhaps I am dreaming, and the music is helping me dream?
  • The album ends with the longest, prettiest and most intense song, which is as it should be.

{www.home-tapes.com}


this month's issue
archive
about erasing clouds
links
contact
     

Copyright (c) 2011 erasing clouds