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Dorena - About Everything and More

Rating

RIYL

Explosions in the Sky
Ellis The Vacuumchild
The Appleseed Cast

Release Date

08/17/2010

Label

Deep Elm

Tracklist

01. The Morning Bus
02. From The Window Of My Room
03. At Sea
04. In Silence
05. We'll Never Meet This Young Again
06. Stars In The Ceiling
07. Never Alone, Always Lonesome
08. Let Us Live

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Recent Ratings
Bukkakeface

I am a huge fan of post rock instrumental music, so this review may be a little biased. I think those that do like instrumental music know that we all have our favorites and tend not to stray from them. I was presently surprised when I heard this album; at first I was expecting an overly dense album that was formulaic, but my assumptions were wrong. Dorena’s sophomore album About Everything and More has all of the post rock staples, including the pre-requisite atmospheric build-ups and changing song tempos. Yet there is something different about this record that trumps the casual instrumental band formula. Dorena has the ability to infuse subtle experimentation, which doesn’t sound overdone or contrite, into their music.

The opening track “The Morning Bus” offers the listener a slow build up into what some may say is an almost Joan of Arc guitar style. The album offers up a mix of poppy upbeat synth lines woven throughout the songs. At first the use of synth for hooks rather than ambience caught me off guard. The purist in me questioned the use but soon embraced it because, well… they just know how to write great licks. Dorena also offers seemingly aggressive parts a la a lesser Russian Circles; these parts had me bobbing my head as they tore through the songs. See the end of the third track, “At Sea,” for a good example of this heavy approach. On the track “In Silence” we find Dorena in a deep background of sound with a slide guitar being played in its midst. One thing I have failed to mention up this point are the vocals that are scattered throughout the record. Like most post rock bands vocals are usually not existent, but Dorena find a way to craft them into songs. These vocals, though sparse, are akin to early The Appleseed Cast. They're just another tool used to create their landscapes of sound. It's interesting to see Dorena, a Swedish band, take more than a few nods from Midwest indie rock. Throughout the various parts of the album hints of some more Joan of Arc, Kinesella brothers’ type riffs.

All in all, Dorena only lean on their post rock styling merely to hold their musical endeavors together before lift off. According to the bands website their name is an acronym for De Omnibus Rebus Et Nonnullis Aliis, roughly translated as,” about everything and a little more.” This is a fitting title for a band that both impresses and remains subtle in their ability to craft well thought out songs. There is an overall natural feeling to the songs, almost akin to early Pelican if I dare say so. The ebb and flow of their songs is perfect. The synthpop vibe and indie rock influences that Dorena infuses truly create an interesting listen for those that are willing to give this instrumental band a chance. I am glad I did.

--Corey Mack