Review Summary: A cute little acoustic album.
Here we have a rather simple acoustic album, and the first one by I Built The Sky. The main instruments are the guitar and strings. That’s about it, aside from a random and fleeting piano flourish, and a distant xylophone. I tend to avoid acoustic albums like the Black Plague, but this one struck my fancy. Despite a lack of percussion, The Quiet Place Away is an endearingly indie sounding sonic collection for the otherwise rock/metal musician.
There’s one big flaw: the album is too repetitive for its good. It’s not extraordinary in any particular way, seeming like music that would play in a Starbucks. It’s certainly a great collection of acoustics, yet I can’t imagine coming back to this very often. I Built The Sky is no Beethoven and is missing the dynamics - bumps and thrills - of a big picture soundtrack. The composition isn’t exactly enthralling.
There isn’t much variety, but the music stays pretty. Strings play just as important of a role as the guitar, threading sweeping waves into a delicately intentional guitar pattern. The guitar work is stellar throughout, never overzealous or overcrowded, yet rhythmically sound, with a large portion of technical plucking. It’s an overall relaxing affair, and for his first acoustic album, the cohesion of sound and rhythm, as well as overall production is rather impressive.
As time plays out, and the strings and the guitar no longer surprise, the ordinary nature of this album is revealed. Strings are a nice addition, but they’re too analogous with the guitars, and have a short time cap in memorability. The entire point of the album seems to be pretty guitar work, and for that the album succeeds. I found myself not wanting to turn off the album. As simple as it is, it’s effective, bringing a nearly Christmassy, woodsy tone across. Take that how you will.
