Album Rating: 4.0

save it for something else, I'm expecting a smooth ride

Album Rating: 5.0

It's not as smooth, quite some Zornian moments in there. It will surprise you Demon.

Album Rating: 4.0

I was responding to dedex's potential requirements, but sure

I mean in reality this isn't an entirely 'smooth' ride either, depending on your perspective of course

Album Rating: 4.2 | Sound Off

i said imma grab some lube and i stg imma grab myself some lube



gonna have to find a slot to listen to this in one sitting - see ya next week!!

Album Rating: 4.0

sounds like you've already found / allocated a slot for insertion to me, unless...

yeah, what kind of deviant grabs the lube, then decides? Blimey, the things you learn

Album Rating: 5.0

Yeah i get u Demon, all i am saying is that highs are higher and the lows lower regarding intensity. It's bumpy but really engaging. There's a lot the Fire! core in there too. The only bummer is that there are less vocals this time.

Album Rating: 4.2 | Sound Off

"The only bummer is that there are less vocals this time."



😥 that's why I think this is their best

Album Rating: 5.0

New one really is great, some really nice texture and moods. It is going to take quite a few listens to sink in but I am prepared to have it grow and grow

Halfway through the new one. Sexy AF.

Album Rating: 4.0

yeah, I'm not enjoying the ratio of vocals to instrumental segments on the new one. Some nice parts though, no doubt. It is a test of ye old attention span and I shall (maybe) succeed. Hmm.

Album Rating: 4.2 | Sound Off

really vibing with the new one. not on par with this one, but still a cool babe

Album Rating: 5.0

I feel it's a Fire! album with less orchestra. That plus double the length and almost no vocals it really translates into an enduring test, but some beats are indeed delicious.

Album Rating: 5.0

There's a hypnotic effect to the new one that is less present on Arrival. This one felt more spastic and unpredictable, and the new one has that lilting kind of repetition that makes it different from Arrival. Really wish there were more times the vocals would let loose but I am still really enjoying the new one now that I am about three times through its entirety.

Patiently awaiting your inevitable (right? ...RIGHT???) review of ECHOES, Dewi. I went in with high expectations considering my feelings toward ARRIVAL (one of the best albums of its respective decade, tbh) without any pretense of what the album "should" sound like, and it still managed to totally captivate me. It's certainly not ARRIVAL, but I also didn't want it to be another ARRIVAL. I can lament the lack of batshit female vocal dueling here, but what's the point? This is a beautiful album that feels almost more "Fire!" than "Fire! Orchestra" at times, but the restraint is a nice change of pace, and there are a lot of dynamics and modulation here that keep things interesting over the two-hour span. The loud/skronk moments wouldn't be so loud/skronky without the calm and composed sections in between. At times it feels almost like an ambient record, a minimalist free improv album at others, all while still capturing that overarching avant-jazz essence that the ensemble has embodied since their first release.

I'm really digging it, easily my AOTY so far (early I know) but in some ways this feels like belated maturation, as much as I hate "mature" as an adjective of describing a band's progression. It's kind of apt here, though. Very dense, more so than it would even seem after a single listen. A lot to unpack and I'll have fun doing that over the remainder of the year.

Long live Fire! Orchestra.

Album Rating: 4.0

so, did you like it? Unclear. And more importantly, is it acceptable to divide Echoes into two halves to aid digestion? (and avoid logistical issues)

Adored it. (Unsure which part of "easily my AOTY so far" was unclear.)
Not recommended.

Album Rating: 4.0

It’s called sarcasm tect, I mean you waxed lyrical, there really wasn’t any room for doubt.

And that’s disappointing, can’t see me listening to it any time soon then. I’m not sure ‘background listening’ will do it justice either. I need another lockdown.

Oof, my sarcasm detector has been on the fritz lately (been a hectic week, to say the least) so apologies there. Should've known. But I was legitimately convinced that you weren't sure exactly where I stood 🥴🥴 I need a drink!

To each their own, of course, I'd say piecemeal digestion is better than none at all, but do think it'd be worth waiting a little bit I suppose if you think you can carve out a two-hour chunk of time in the next few weeks or so. It's a J O U R N E Y . . .

Album Rating: 4.0

Played Diablo and listened to echoes for like 8 hours yesterday. Great stuff.

Sounds like a good day