Seascapes Of The Interior - All Safe, All Well
Released in 2002
6 Tracks - 44 mins
Post-Rock is the name of the game, what that means: I don't know, but what it is is (mostly instrumental) soft rock music with piano, strings, and some other instruments usually used in orchestral music. For reference, think of bands like Godspeed You Black Emperor or Mogwai which are more well known. They also use other instruments that you don't find in Rock or Orchestral music, like a bullroarer.
This band is from Geelong, Australia, and I think the cd will be sold out very soon- with no plans for reprinting.. It was $13 (Aus) including postage (within Australia, just add a bit more if you are from elsewhere)... and the cd cover is made from recycled paper!
The first song Symbiont Step, gives me the impression of someone in trouble in water.
starts with strings slowly fading in, its like waves coming up and then crashing at the beach. A piano soon joins, then the bass, drums and guitar come in. The strings swell and diminish like water rising and falling. The music reminds me a bit of Mogwai. The next bit is drowning, then calmness. About 8 minutes in, the band suddenly bursts out with a ton of energy as if the person is fighting the current, trying to get back to the air, but as the end of the song approaches, the energy is slowly subdued and fades out on a calm note.
It's a very powerful piece and gets your imagination going.
Entwined Essence Passing is a short (split?) piece, with something like people talking and church bells ringing, then the music suddenly fades in, its guitar dominated, but all the other instruments except the drums are there too. It's a nice tune but it doesn't really go anywhere. It probably could have been expanded on to great effect.
I Patiently Watch The Blood Drain Away is quite minimalist, starts with a kalimba playing a theme which repeats for a while. A warm synth and lyricless female vocals join in.. theres also something buzzing in the background. It's pretty haunting when the kalimba stops and leaves the remaining instruments to carry on the ghostly harmonies, a howl starts up and carries on to the next track...
Yarto, along with the howl, is a recording of Charlie Barker - an aboriginal man who was taken from his tribe in the 1900's, talking about the stolen generation. The howl goes halfway through this and becomes more musical, but sounding like a creepy jam session before closing.
Yarto 1 is totally different, but still fits in with the previous two tracks with its minimalistic haunting sound. It's mainly guitar and piano, but the other instruments are still there in the background. Then yet another change in the middle of the track, the piano definitely changes, violins get louder, but I think the guitar is doing something similar to the start.
The last song, Moving, is my favourite on the cd, it's also the longest. It's the only song with real lyrics, but they dont come in until about 15 minutes in.. It starts off building up rather slowly, then levelling out to create a platform for some more lyricless female vocals, she has such a powerful voice. By now its already 6 mins in, then a new theme is introduced (this is the part from the sample on the site), I really like this bit. It grows and morphs and sounds very beautiful, then some more lyricless vocals, I think its the same thing being said in I Patiently Watch The Blood Drain Away, just different (and much nicer to listen to) melody.
Soon it all fades away excpet for the piano, not really a piano solo.. but solo piano played really well, along with some ride cymbal for atmosphere. As the piano continues, the guitar comes back in, followed by strings and drums. Now is the part with the real lyrics, but this time a man is singing, but accompanied by female vocals. I'm not sure on the lyrics, but they came with the cd, I just haven't looked.. It's quite calm even though it builds up a fair bit of power towards the end, but slowly calms back down and ends so gracefully. It's such a great work, easily one of the best I've heard.
Overall, the whole cd is great, the music is beautiful and powerful, inspirational and thought provoking. For the most part, it flows really well. I'd give it 10, but theres something about Entwined Essence Passing that just doesn't seem right. If it was expanded on more, I'm sure it would have been perfected.
9.5/10
[url]http://www.seascapesoftheinterior.com[/url] for song samples, and email Adam if you are interested in getting a cd, and hopefully theres still some left.
This Message Edited On 03.20.06
