 | Tracklist:
1. Guidance
2. Last Hours of Eternity
3. Rain Clouds running In a Holy Night
4. Pierces of the Moon I weaved
5. Lights and Solitude
6. Dreams Coming to an End
7. Incomplete
8. Worn Heels and the Hands We Hold
9. A Hint and the Incapacity
10. A Breath Clad in Happiness
11. 0 and 1
12. Your Hand
| Ranking: #71 for 2010 | |
| | other reviews | Eli K. CONTRIBUTOR (4)
While not as groundbreaking as their previous releases, Envy's "Recitation" is still a great additio... |
On 59 Lists
|
5 of 5 thought this review was well written
You would be forgiven in thinking that Envy were just a post-rock band. Opening track “Guidance” and the introduction of “Last Hours of Eternity” heavily resemble the post rock sounds of band akin to Explosions in the Sky and Sigur Ros, yet at the same time they hold their own distinct sound, helped in part by the unique Japanese language. For you see, Envy is a post-hardcore band from the Land of the Rising Sun (Japan), with a large emphasis on the “post” aspect. They do in fact use many of post-rock’s tropes, but they mix it in with the desperate aggression of the hardcore genre. It is this combination that makes Envy, and their latest album Recitation, such a joy to listen to.
One of Envy’s greatest strengths are the vocals of Tetsuya Fukagawa, whose voice alternates between spoken word and a hardcore shout throughout the album. What separates Envy from other hardcore bands, besides the post-rock element, is that these vocals hold this desperate sound to it, almost as if Tetsuya is struggling to make the sound come out of his throat. It’s angry, disparate, and rough around the edges, but that only serves to enhance the numerous climaxes that occur throughout Recitation. Tetsuya alternates between this hardcore scream and normal spoken word to great effect throughout the album, the most well done (and just the most awesome) situation of this in the track “Dreams Coming to an End.” Coming in like a hammer with his hardcore shouting, he continues with Nobukata Kawai and Masahiro Tobita’s excellent guitar work before switching to rapid fire spoken word when the instruments tone down just a bit, then he goes right back into an explosive shout.
Besides this song, Tetsuya uses his voice to great use in “Light and Solitude,” “Worn Heels and the Hands we Hold,” and “A Breath Clad in Happiness.” It’s definitely one of the more memorable aspects of the album, and does a fantastic job of accentuating the climaxes.
Vocals aside, the drummer is truly where the band generates most of its stride. Dairoku Seki totally thrashes away at his kit; and his ability to switch styles on the fly with the rest of the band works wonderfully well to give the rising moments so much impact. Changing between drum rolls, galloping syncopations, or just all out mayhem combining the bass drum and cymbals, Seki does a phenomenal job of increasing Recitation’s emotional impact.
It must be said, however, that the guitars also do a fantastic job at this. Nobukata and Masahiro, much like the drums, can switch styles on the fly, either creating simplistic melodies from which the band builds on or playing extensively in the high register during the climaxes. “A Breath Clad in Happiness” has the guitarists at their best, as they exchange melodies with each other while Tetsuya screams his lungs out. Combined with the pounding drums, it serves to create this clash of sound that creates multiple streams of emotions when listening to the song. The bass guitar is used effectively here as well. Being the lowest end of the band, Manaba Nakagawa does the most work in creating this sonic dichotomy between him and the higher pitches of the guitars.
However, “0 and 1” has the band’s collective talent truly at its finest. Starting with a pounding drumbeat, plucked bass notes, and aggressive guitar tones, the band crescendos into a false climax before collapsing and starting another crescendo. This time, the rising sound is much softer, but abruptly erupts into its climax. Here Tetsuya sounds as if he’s on the verge of crying, while the guitar section continually strike at their strings, and Dairoku pounds at his kit creating a desperate marching sound to it. At the final moment, it all abruptly ends. Then “Your Hand” plays, and the album ends. I am left speechless.
I’m left speechless because I had just been taken on a journey with multiple stops and turns, multiple hills and valleys, and I had enjoyed every step of it. I was taken on this journey by a guide whose language I could not understand but I was still captivated by everything they said. I was left speechless at how simple the instrumentation was, and at the same taken aback by how effectively it was used. I was left speechless because for the first time, an album exposed its greatest strengths after everything was said and done. And in that respect, Envy has rightfully established themselves as one of the foremost leaders of the post-hardcore genre.
|
| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4
Did this review for a good friend of mine.
Is a spectacular album/band.
| | | Album Rating: 3
been meaning to hear this, thanks for reminding me
Digging: Weakling - Dead as Dreams Digging: Weakling - Dead as Dreams | | | Album Rating: 3.5
this is a really good album. some of the low ratings kind of suprised me.
Digging: Hop Along - Get Disowned | | | Album Rating: 2.5
Lame album is lame,
Digging: Botanist - I: The Suicide Tree / II: A Rose From the Dead | | | Album Rating: 4
Oh come on Balls, how can you not get excited by Dreams Coming to an End?
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
I like Envy but this album is boring and uninspired.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
yeah
Digging: Suis La Lune - Riala | | | Album Rating: 4
Well this was only my second Envy album I listened to, I should probably check out the rest of their discography
| | | Album Rating: 3
wow:
Like the kamikaze winds of their birth country
| | |
I still haven't gotten this. I didn't really care for the first song they released.
Digging: Jaga Jazzist - A Livingroom Hush
| | | Album Rating: 4
This is their 2nd best album
Digging: Animal Collective - Honeycomb/Gotham | | | Album Rating: 3
not at all but keep lying to yourself. this band functions way better when they put the hardcore in front of the post-rock
| | | Album Rating: 3
Just re-listened, and wow did this wear off of me....
What separates Envy from other hardcore bands, besides the post-rock element
I really disagree with this. There is a large number of bands doing this now. Yeah, they sort of got the ball rolling, but it's nothing too original nowadays.
Like the kamikaze winds of their birth country
Remove this. Not only is "divine wind" winds redundant, it's just offensive due to its connotations.
Digging: Suis La Lune - Riala Digging: Suis La Lune - Riala | | |
Oh so this is more post-rock like? I might like it then; I've always struggled with Envy due to the overwhelming screaming they have. I like the albums I have though.
| | | Album Rating: 3
You won't like this Josh. It's like post-rock passage, typical Envy hardcore passage, then post-rock passage again.
I'm upset this wore off of me so badly. I remember playing the shit out of it back in Sept/October, and loving it.
| | | Album Rating: 3
why wouldnt josh like this
| | |
"You won't like this Josh. It's like post-rock passage, typical Envy hardcore passage, then post-rock passage again"
What about my pie chart, common rec's, lists, etc. would leave you to believe I wouldn't like that, including my Envy ratings.
| | | Album Rating: 3
Idk, it's not that great really. If you like most of Envy's stuff, which you said you do, this would probably come as a disappointment, as it's one of their weaker efforts. I'm not telling you to not listen to it, just don't expect much.
| | |
I don't have any expectations, really.
| | | Album Rating: 3
time for xenophanes to delete his 4 star review of this album
| | | |
|
|
Stumble
Digg
Twitter
Del.icio.us
