Review Summary: Greatest post-rock album ever created?
(The) Slowest Runner (In All The World) fall nicely within the descripter post-rock and draw heavy influence from
Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Much like
Godspeed, they also shy away from the lime-light. Instead of actively interacting with fans they opt to remain relatively anonymous. The concept of letting the music do the talking is a romantic one, but it's also pretty ballsy too. You can't help but respect a band who just wants to jam, and
We, Burning Giraffes is certainly the result of spontaneity and passion.
The
Godspeed comparison is fitting but
(The) Slowest Runner have crafted something truly unique in their own right.
Godspeed is heralded for creating lavish alien soundscapes that manage to swallow any unsuspecting listener whereas
(The) Slowest Runner take a slightly different approach. The sounds on this album are enveloping and consuming, yet there is a urgency that is much more present when contrasted to
Godspeed. Each track moves at an exhilarating pace, boasting the bands ability to orchestrate the flow of the music. This album is simply stunning, much like those of
Godspeed, yet it also manages to be much more accessible in a certain regard.
Ultimately
(The) Slowest Runner have crafted an exhilarating experience. Whether it is the lone string erupting into a furious collage of noise on the track
"Zoe Machete Control" or the isolated vocal that drones for a friend on the track
"Aembers/Guggenheim", the end result is nothing short of profound.
We, Burning Giraffes doesn't plead to be accepted, or to be loved; it dares you not to. This is a record that transcends time and culture, that brings together a collection of instruments to form a grand offering. This is an album that is something truly special.
