Chicagoslaw8

ill join in

Chicagoslaw8

well, from my first listen, i like some of it. it feels a bit like Now,Now, and Phantogram. my problem with the album is the Vocals. like many other indie bands, they sing so low, that the music overcomes their voice. if the singer was a bit louder, it would be a higher score for me. Its a good rock album that is pulled back by the soft vocals. 7/10

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Trollheart

It's called shoegaze; they're meant to sound like that.

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OccultHawk

Maybe that's why he or she said, "like many indie bands"

Trollheart

Yeah possibly. I'm just pointing out, in case it was thought otherwise, that it's a deliberate and developed style of singing, not that the vocalist is lacking in any way.

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innerspaceboy

I’ve given this album two solid listens, and I’m grateful that I gave it a second shot. Initially, I played the Youtube version on my server and listened using my Audioquest Nighthawks, and found it nearly unlistenable. From the first note off the record, the album sounded incredibly muddy, as if I were listening submerged in a tank of water. And don’t misunderstand me - there are a few shoegaze staples which are produced precisely to sound that way and to a marvelous result. But after three tracks I was so frustrated with the sound that I terminated the album survey and moved on to other tasks.

After a day passed I thought I should give it another shot so I played it again, but this time used my Focal mains instead of the Nighthawks. I was delighted to find it a wholly different and far more gratifying listening experience. Just a minute or two into the opening track, it was evident that the transparency of my floor speakers served this record far better than the heavily-colorized signature of the headphones. The vocals are most certainly subdued, both in Nash’s delivery and in the mixing, but in a way wonderfully suited to the genre. The endlessly swirling phasing effect of the guitar and the percussion-from-a-distant-planet are enough to convince any unsuspecting listener that this album was lifted straight out of the prime era of shoegaze. As a haughty musical traditionalist, I found that I had a really difficult time dismissing this record as modern rubbish and it spoiled all my pretentious fun.

While there are no massively-gripping moments from this record, it makes no attempt to be giant or showman-like. It simply acts as a brilliantly loud sonic bed for the listener to lose him/herself in, just as a good shoegaze record should. The already-named influences are absolutely evident, and the duo does nothing to hide this - instead the album is an excellent tribute to the mainstays of droning neo-psychedelia, (and “Outside” sounds reminiscent of a slightly more uptempo “Venus in Furs.”)

All in all, a surprisingly enjoyable album. So glad I gave it a fair shake.

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Aloysius

While tracks like the opener betray an obsession with My Bloody Valentine - and who can blame them - other tracks remind me more of the spacey gothicism of This Mortal Coil. Still other tracks, in contrast with the British shoegaze tradition, show a band with a deep affinity with American musical tradition - from the minor pentatonic soaked blues rock of Grass to the I - IV - V doo wop loop of The Greatest Fall, and that heavy gauge reverb soaked surf guitar tone that permeates much of the album. I really like the way the vocals sit, distant, nostalgic and other worldly. I'll definitely keep this one in my library, thanks TH!
8/10

Trollheart

When bob introduced me to The Black Ryder via The Door Behind the Door I was totally knocked out. What an amazing album; a pure, enchanting vista of sound that just caressed the ear and almost defied description. Very low-key, very laidback, very gentle. So my initial impression on listening to this was what? This isn't the gentle wash of music I was expecting! Mind you, my almost immediate next thought was, but hell it's excellent!

Although nobody has opted to use the matrix I made, I have, but as you know, nobody can tell you what the matrix is: you have to see it for yourself.

And so, here it is.

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Initially, wtf? This isn't anything like The Door Behind the Door! But then I realised that yeah, it is their debut and so it is a somewhat different animal to the album I listened to originally. Once I got over that I was able to relax and really experience this album.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
Loved it totally. The idea of TBR hitting out with power after my only experience of them being the softer DBTD is great. I love the repetitive guitar riffs.

3. What did you think of the next track?
Loved this too, especially the kind of droning effect. Excellent. Aimee's vocal works well here.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1)
It's shoegaze, so it's kind of hard for me to rate a vocalist I can't really hear that well, but overall I did like both vocalists, though if I had to choose it would definitely be Scott.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2)
Yes, all the music was excellent, and if this was just an instrumental album it would still be top notch.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Far better; each track seemed better than the last.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
I couldn't really make out the lyrics. I don't feel it matters. This is more about creating a mood than understanding the individual songs.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3)
Absolutely. Some great guitar work and excellent synth.

9. What did you think of the production?
It's shoegaze so hard to say. It's meant to sound muddy and low in the mix, so yeah, I guess it was well produced but I couldn't really say.

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?

Yes and yes. Although I was expecting another Door Behind the Door, I was not disappointed.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Generally, no, though I may do so more now.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?

I listened to this probably ten to fifteen times, and every time I loved it more.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
It's hard to say, as they are all so good, but if I had to pick then I'd go for “Grass”, “Outside”, “The greatest fall” and “Sweet come down”, though I love every track here. Oh, and “Burn and fade”, how could I leave that gem out? And “Rise” of course.

14. And the one you liked least?
Non sequitur.

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4)
Yes and yes, though I had heard the followup album so my expectations were high, and indeed realised. I actually did this in reverse, obviously.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
I hope they will record more, but so far this is it.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
No. I knew this was going to be damn amazing, and it was.

18. Did the album end well?

Oh good holy **** on a Raleigh Grifter, yes! “Rise” is absolutely entrancing, a fantastic end to a fantastic album.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Not possible, unless it were longer.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
Hung together very well as a cohesive unit.

As for rating, well I can't think of another album that I could listen to over twenty times (which I now have), not even a Marillion one (!) so there's no doubt in my mind that this deserves the full 5/5. Perfect. Eternal thanks to bob for introducing me, and yes, it was one hell of a ride.

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Pet_Sounds

That's an interesting use of the phrase.

My review should be up later tonight.

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Pet_Sounds

My thoughts:
I'm not a fan of shoegaze generally, and that held true for this album, although there were some tracks I enjoyed, such as "Grass." Overall it was too muddy and same-sounding; I need variety to keep me interested. I didn't dislike it, but I'd probably only give it 6/10.

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