ChaosResolved
11-17-2005, 02:53 PM
Tracking the trends continues its march through the UK's instrumental scene, brining you five fresh bands: Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + start, Yndi Halda, CtrlAltDelete, The Exploits of Elaine, and Fight Fire With Water. Those who missed Part I (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5080) should click here (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5080) to catch up.
Part II
Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + start
Kent, England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/upcdownc.gif
Website: Upcdowncleftcrightcabc+start (http://www.upcdownc.com)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/upcdownc)
After a series of self-recorded EPs and albums, Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + Start received a break from Tap 'n' Tin Records (http://www.tapntinrecords.co.uk) and brings their new album, And the Battle is Won to the world with proper label backing. Paying tribute to the invincibility cheat in old-school Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis), Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + Start should not be confused as a childish band. The sound created by this band challenges the hard-rock mentality of Pelican while remaining soft enough to dance with Mono without breaking any toes. Those who felt elation at the fragile composition of Pelican's acoustic "-" will salivate for the smooth ride of Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + Start 's tranquil "Comfort Me, I've Lost My Heart," who step up the ante by introducing a violin to the picture. Yet, on the same page, the band offers blistering rock in the form of "Sadako's Fury" and the heart-stopping "Silent Fire," which dives into a space-rock composition featuring a sharp breakdown that is so powerful it snaps itself literally in two as it progresses further into the track. Clearly the gem of the album, "Silent Fire" is a bit of new taste for the band, as it brings together many of the different sounds the band is exploring into a concise five minute song that drives the point home with undeniable authority. "Shallows" is a similarly attractive track, starting off slow and melodic and building towards an epic, loud finale. This is a song that the band has struggled with over the past three years, repeatedly attempting to perfect the song but always finding themselves unhappy with the final production. On And the Battle is Won, the band can claim just that--that the struggle with this song has finally ended, as it shines as brightly as the rest of this superb album.
Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + Start accomplish a rare task with And the Battle is Won. They're able to convincingly pull off an album that simultaneously taps into the pool of softer sounds of the instrumental genre, in all of its various "post-rock" forms, and also the rich history of instrumental hard rock. Often these experiments result in oddly paced albums or create a disorienting experience through jarring transitions. However, Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-CABC + Start show that over the years they've found their unique blend of instrumental rock, and those who care to joint them on this adventure will be well rewarded.
Yndi Halda
Canterbury, England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/yndihalda.jpg
Website: Yndi Halda (http://www.yndihalda.com/)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/yndihalda)
Although Yndi Halda has been together for over four years, Enjoy Eternal Bliss (which is "Yndi Halda" translated from Icelandic) is the first proper release from the band. However, there are no signs of immature craftsmanship or ill-conceived compositions from this group of talented artists. Instead, Yndi Halda create a wonderful forty-five minutes of music, spread across three monolithic tracks. Each track is utterly beautiful, cultivating an organic sound from the lead violin and building up subtle rhythms and beats by minimalist guitar and drum work in the background. The different layers swirl around and combine with an cyclonic intensity over and over again that is a great rendition of the quiet/loud backbone of post-rock. The songs reach a full evolution that is reminiscent of Sigur Ros, as they spill forth a cathartic tidal wave that cleanses the sonic environment of any unnatural presence and return the sound to a newborn image. The songs are complex and patient, offering a deep emotional connection but waiting until the absolute opportune time to reveal the path of this "eternal bliss." It's refreshing to see a band so skilled at song-writing that strays away from the more technical side of the instrumental genre and resists the urge to fall back upon reverb and feedback or tap into an electronic vibe. In that sense, Yndia Halda share a vision similar to Detwiije, both of whom shy away from hypnotic, droning compositions for more stimulating instrumentation.
Yndi Haldas first release is a memorable one. Fans of Godspeed You! Black Emporer and Explosions in the Sky will love the presentation of Enjoy Eternal Bliss. Although this album was a long time in the making, it is well worth the wait. Yndi Halda prove that they have a firm grasp of their genre and a deep understanding of what they desire to accomplish as a band, which is evident from the coherency in the album. If Enjoy Eternal Bliss is a sign of things to come, I anxiously await all this band has to offer.
CtrlAltDelete
Carlisle, England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/ctrlaltdelete.jpg
Website: CtrlAltDelete (http://www.wethreekeys.co.uk)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/wethreekeyscouk)
On its second EP, Mondegreens, CtrlAltDelete create some heavily atmospheric sounds that could easily be mistaken for the work of a much louder, metal based act. It must be the bass--a wave of claustrophobic droning blankets everything in site, retreating on occasion for a breif respite from the dark overhead and allowing the guitar to get in some cute licks which call upon a memory of Explosions in the Sky, and maybe some Mogwai on a bright sunny day. Although CtrlAltDelete has the backing of an independent label (MotiveSounds (http://www.motivesounds.com)), it has cruised under the radar for much too long. How could this talented trio have eluded the eyes of some of the internet's better researchers? It is a mystery to me, but now the world will hear the ferocious roar of CtrlAltDelete. The four tracks offered on the band's second EP blister and crackle, bursting with so much energy that they tear at the seams and threaten the foundation they rest upon. "Your Aggression, My Venture" explodes into a warm, engulfing wave of cataclysmic proportions before spooling effortlessly forward on a wirethin thread that we like to call frailty. CtrlAltDelete hit the highs, the lows, and everything inbetween during its continuous path of lopsided destruction. "Each of These Innocents on the Street is Engulfed by a Terror of Their Own Ordinariness" bounces through polished structures and highlights a calm presence brough by the subtle instrumentation of the drums and guitars. The bass enters the picture and sends the plane spiraling downward from it's safe circular patterns. Yet, like a well organized instrumental release, the best is always saved for last, and "Patter, Change, and Menace" shows just that. It builds with a steady force and then is ripped wide apart time and again, exposing the underlying urgency of the music that was so well hidden for the first twenty minutes. And, after that secret is revealed, there's no turning back to the way you used to view the way instrumental music could be made.
CtrlAltDelete aren't a quiet/loud band, but rather, they're a loud/louder band that sometimes gets tired of rocking out all the time and has to refocus their energy on softer, artistic compositions. But, have no bones about it, this band is massive. They bring a new meaning to the word epic, throwing around huge bass drops and breaking down sonic environments with a swiftness unmatched in the rest of the instrumental genre. Mondegreens is a must have.
Exploits of Elaine
Telford, England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/exploitsofelaine.jpg
Website: Exploits of Elaine (http://www.theexploitsofelaine.co.uk/)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/theexploitsofelaine)
In a time of massive instrumental albums with lots of bloated, repetitive tracks that appear to be lengthy just for the sake of complication, The Exploits of Elaine bring everything back to basics. The band makes catchy, short songs that are layered as you would expect a normal song to be, but lack a vocal presence. Keys are abundant, as The Exploits of Elaine tickle the spine with fluttering guitars and erratic temporal arrangements. It's amazing that the band is able to stuff as much substance into a three minute time span, because by the time Heavy Electricity is finished, you could swear that you've been listening to it for at least an hour. It's difficult to categorize the sound that ultimately emanates from the instruments of this quintet, as it has a futuristic feel to it with a spastic, almost tribal backbone. "The Nevermarch" has bombastic drumming and dancing keys, which keep the ears entertained while the guitars do a quick tango in the peripheal. Guitars are stretched into a slowly, dreamy composition during "In Richard's Dreams," and the keys cascade over the framework while the drumming hammers away relentless like the echoes of lost souls. "Collapse" offers a little bit of synth rock, reminiscing over 80s rock and bringing forward a progressive sound that beckons forth a feeling of space travel. "Your Three Stars" closes off the set, building a quick, epic climax that is as small a serving as everything else on the EP. The Exploits of Elaine remind me of the popular saying by Mark Twain--"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog." While The Exploits of Elaine aren't the biggest instrumental group in the scene, they show that they have just as much heart as anyone else out there.
In the end, Heave Electricity is a creative EP that is both fun and stretches the mind. They'd do well to match up alongside Sweden's Ellis the Vacuumchild, whom acheive a similar point of realization in Peace by Extermination by extensive sonic layers that percolate through the body and into the soul. The band has shown that they can excel on the small scale, so we can only expect the debut album to be a knockout performance.
Fight Fire With Water
Leicestershire, England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/fightfirewithwater.jpg
Website: Fight Fire With Water (http://www.fightfirewithwater.co.uk)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/fightfirewithwater)
Opening for 65 Days of Static in support of its sophomore release can never be a bad thing. Especially when the opener is a group of four talented musicians rocking the instrumental genre in the progressive math-rock vein of Dysrhythmia and Oxes, with a bit of Don Caballero thrown in for good measure. This math-rock scene is something many UK bands seemingly ignore, but Fight Fire with Water grab it by the throat. The band offers six demoed tracks for download from their website, displaying a wide array of techniques employed to deliver a gut-wrenching performance. The demos reveal a guitar driven band that is more than proficient at creating some complex time/physical structures. With some layered reverb, Fight Fire with Water is able to create some mesmerizing effects that supplement what sounds to be one of the mightiest British drummers in the instrumental circuit. The band shifts from raging breakneck speeds during chaotic, spastic breakdowns into sluggish, juggernautic crescendos and steep tension building segues. Perhaps the most impressive aspect to this band is the overwhelming energy that excretes from their music. It's not quite that familiar anxiety that emanates from the work of 65 Days of Static, but rather, has a reckless over-the-top characteristic akin to your neighborhood's friendly punk band. Assuming, of course, that they could play more than 4 chords.
While I'm generally not one to praise a set of basement demos, Fight Fire with Water is in major need of some studio time. The resulting material could be nothing less of devastating, as is evident by the rough demos provided on their website. I dare say these are one of the best--if not they best--instrumental band in need of a home. Hopefully the future is bright for this blossoming young band, and this is just the beginning of many praises for Fight Fire with Water.
~Jordan Volz
Part II
Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + start
Kent, England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/upcdownc.gif
Website: Upcdowncleftcrightcabc+start (http://www.upcdownc.com)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/upcdownc)
After a series of self-recorded EPs and albums, Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + Start received a break from Tap 'n' Tin Records (http://www.tapntinrecords.co.uk) and brings their new album, And the Battle is Won to the world with proper label backing. Paying tribute to the invincibility cheat in old-school Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis), Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + Start should not be confused as a childish band. The sound created by this band challenges the hard-rock mentality of Pelican while remaining soft enough to dance with Mono without breaking any toes. Those who felt elation at the fragile composition of Pelican's acoustic "-" will salivate for the smooth ride of Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + Start 's tranquil "Comfort Me, I've Lost My Heart," who step up the ante by introducing a violin to the picture. Yet, on the same page, the band offers blistering rock in the form of "Sadako's Fury" and the heart-stopping "Silent Fire," which dives into a space-rock composition featuring a sharp breakdown that is so powerful it snaps itself literally in two as it progresses further into the track. Clearly the gem of the album, "Silent Fire" is a bit of new taste for the band, as it brings together many of the different sounds the band is exploring into a concise five minute song that drives the point home with undeniable authority. "Shallows" is a similarly attractive track, starting off slow and melodic and building towards an epic, loud finale. This is a song that the band has struggled with over the past three years, repeatedly attempting to perfect the song but always finding themselves unhappy with the final production. On And the Battle is Won, the band can claim just that--that the struggle with this song has finally ended, as it shines as brightly as the rest of this superb album.
Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + Start accomplish a rare task with And the Battle is Won. They're able to convincingly pull off an album that simultaneously taps into the pool of softer sounds of the instrumental genre, in all of its various "post-rock" forms, and also the rich history of instrumental hard rock. Often these experiments result in oddly paced albums or create a disorienting experience through jarring transitions. However, Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-CABC + Start show that over the years they've found their unique blend of instrumental rock, and those who care to joint them on this adventure will be well rewarded.
Yndi Halda
Canterbury, England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/yndihalda.jpg
Website: Yndi Halda (http://www.yndihalda.com/)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/yndihalda)
Although Yndi Halda has been together for over four years, Enjoy Eternal Bliss (which is "Yndi Halda" translated from Icelandic) is the first proper release from the band. However, there are no signs of immature craftsmanship or ill-conceived compositions from this group of talented artists. Instead, Yndi Halda create a wonderful forty-five minutes of music, spread across three monolithic tracks. Each track is utterly beautiful, cultivating an organic sound from the lead violin and building up subtle rhythms and beats by minimalist guitar and drum work in the background. The different layers swirl around and combine with an cyclonic intensity over and over again that is a great rendition of the quiet/loud backbone of post-rock. The songs reach a full evolution that is reminiscent of Sigur Ros, as they spill forth a cathartic tidal wave that cleanses the sonic environment of any unnatural presence and return the sound to a newborn image. The songs are complex and patient, offering a deep emotional connection but waiting until the absolute opportune time to reveal the path of this "eternal bliss." It's refreshing to see a band so skilled at song-writing that strays away from the more technical side of the instrumental genre and resists the urge to fall back upon reverb and feedback or tap into an electronic vibe. In that sense, Yndia Halda share a vision similar to Detwiije, both of whom shy away from hypnotic, droning compositions for more stimulating instrumentation.
Yndi Haldas first release is a memorable one. Fans of Godspeed You! Black Emporer and Explosions in the Sky will love the presentation of Enjoy Eternal Bliss. Although this album was a long time in the making, it is well worth the wait. Yndi Halda prove that they have a firm grasp of their genre and a deep understanding of what they desire to accomplish as a band, which is evident from the coherency in the album. If Enjoy Eternal Bliss is a sign of things to come, I anxiously await all this band has to offer.
CtrlAltDelete
Carlisle, England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/ctrlaltdelete.jpg
Website: CtrlAltDelete (http://www.wethreekeys.co.uk)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/wethreekeyscouk)
On its second EP, Mondegreens, CtrlAltDelete create some heavily atmospheric sounds that could easily be mistaken for the work of a much louder, metal based act. It must be the bass--a wave of claustrophobic droning blankets everything in site, retreating on occasion for a breif respite from the dark overhead and allowing the guitar to get in some cute licks which call upon a memory of Explosions in the Sky, and maybe some Mogwai on a bright sunny day. Although CtrlAltDelete has the backing of an independent label (MotiveSounds (http://www.motivesounds.com)), it has cruised under the radar for much too long. How could this talented trio have eluded the eyes of some of the internet's better researchers? It is a mystery to me, but now the world will hear the ferocious roar of CtrlAltDelete. The four tracks offered on the band's second EP blister and crackle, bursting with so much energy that they tear at the seams and threaten the foundation they rest upon. "Your Aggression, My Venture" explodes into a warm, engulfing wave of cataclysmic proportions before spooling effortlessly forward on a wirethin thread that we like to call frailty. CtrlAltDelete hit the highs, the lows, and everything inbetween during its continuous path of lopsided destruction. "Each of These Innocents on the Street is Engulfed by a Terror of Their Own Ordinariness" bounces through polished structures and highlights a calm presence brough by the subtle instrumentation of the drums and guitars. The bass enters the picture and sends the plane spiraling downward from it's safe circular patterns. Yet, like a well organized instrumental release, the best is always saved for last, and "Patter, Change, and Menace" shows just that. It builds with a steady force and then is ripped wide apart time and again, exposing the underlying urgency of the music that was so well hidden for the first twenty minutes. And, after that secret is revealed, there's no turning back to the way you used to view the way instrumental music could be made.
CtrlAltDelete aren't a quiet/loud band, but rather, they're a loud/louder band that sometimes gets tired of rocking out all the time and has to refocus their energy on softer, artistic compositions. But, have no bones about it, this band is massive. They bring a new meaning to the word epic, throwing around huge bass drops and breaking down sonic environments with a swiftness unmatched in the rest of the instrumental genre. Mondegreens is a must have.
Exploits of Elaine
Telford, England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/exploitsofelaine.jpg
Website: Exploits of Elaine (http://www.theexploitsofelaine.co.uk/)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/theexploitsofelaine)
In a time of massive instrumental albums with lots of bloated, repetitive tracks that appear to be lengthy just for the sake of complication, The Exploits of Elaine bring everything back to basics. The band makes catchy, short songs that are layered as you would expect a normal song to be, but lack a vocal presence. Keys are abundant, as The Exploits of Elaine tickle the spine with fluttering guitars and erratic temporal arrangements. It's amazing that the band is able to stuff as much substance into a three minute time span, because by the time Heavy Electricity is finished, you could swear that you've been listening to it for at least an hour. It's difficult to categorize the sound that ultimately emanates from the instruments of this quintet, as it has a futuristic feel to it with a spastic, almost tribal backbone. "The Nevermarch" has bombastic drumming and dancing keys, which keep the ears entertained while the guitars do a quick tango in the peripheal. Guitars are stretched into a slowly, dreamy composition during "In Richard's Dreams," and the keys cascade over the framework while the drumming hammers away relentless like the echoes of lost souls. "Collapse" offers a little bit of synth rock, reminiscing over 80s rock and bringing forward a progressive sound that beckons forth a feeling of space travel. "Your Three Stars" closes off the set, building a quick, epic climax that is as small a serving as everything else on the EP. The Exploits of Elaine remind me of the popular saying by Mark Twain--"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog." While The Exploits of Elaine aren't the biggest instrumental group in the scene, they show that they have just as much heart as anyone else out there.
In the end, Heave Electricity is a creative EP that is both fun and stretches the mind. They'd do well to match up alongside Sweden's Ellis the Vacuumchild, whom acheive a similar point of realization in Peace by Extermination by extensive sonic layers that percolate through the body and into the soul. The band has shown that they can excel on the small scale, so we can only expect the debut album to be a knockout performance.
Fight Fire With Water
Leicestershire, England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/fightfirewithwater.jpg
Website: Fight Fire With Water (http://www.fightfirewithwater.co.uk)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/fightfirewithwater)
Opening for 65 Days of Static in support of its sophomore release can never be a bad thing. Especially when the opener is a group of four talented musicians rocking the instrumental genre in the progressive math-rock vein of Dysrhythmia and Oxes, with a bit of Don Caballero thrown in for good measure. This math-rock scene is something many UK bands seemingly ignore, but Fight Fire with Water grab it by the throat. The band offers six demoed tracks for download from their website, displaying a wide array of techniques employed to deliver a gut-wrenching performance. The demos reveal a guitar driven band that is more than proficient at creating some complex time/physical structures. With some layered reverb, Fight Fire with Water is able to create some mesmerizing effects that supplement what sounds to be one of the mightiest British drummers in the instrumental circuit. The band shifts from raging breakneck speeds during chaotic, spastic breakdowns into sluggish, juggernautic crescendos and steep tension building segues. Perhaps the most impressive aspect to this band is the overwhelming energy that excretes from their music. It's not quite that familiar anxiety that emanates from the work of 65 Days of Static, but rather, has a reckless over-the-top characteristic akin to your neighborhood's friendly punk band. Assuming, of course, that they could play more than 4 chords.
While I'm generally not one to praise a set of basement demos, Fight Fire with Water is in major need of some studio time. The resulting material could be nothing less of devastating, as is evident by the rough demos provided on their website. I dare say these are one of the best--if not they best--instrumental band in need of a home. Hopefully the future is bright for this blossoming young band, and this is just the beginning of many praises for Fight Fire with Water.
~Jordan Volz