Arms of Tripoli: Dream in Tongues

Many of the reviews for this album mention post-rock and Tortoise, but to me, I head more in sympathy with a band such as Explosions in the Sky. This is artful, slabs of sounds, repetitive music that uses the constellations of sound to great effect. This is instrumental music, which builds tension by astonishing interplay. It begs to be played loud. Some of this is bright and bouncy, while other parts are moody, deep and roaring. Clearly, these guys know how to play; clearly, their technical skills are secondary to the moods and styles posed by each song. One interesting tactic they use is that songs do not necessarily build to a crescendo and then release tension; rather, a song might start here and end there, without necessarily following the easiest path.

While each song essentially uses a similar strategy, each differs on tone, tempo and mood. "Scraping Skies," for example, is slower and more somber, while "Escalator Jazz" is jagged and angular, and sort of "chirpy." "10th Graders Forever" is one of the best songs on the disc, more epic in scope and melding keys and guitar to great effect, with tension building and releasing like crazy. "Canna" sounds like ti would not be out of place on King Crimson release, with its angular, precise guitars mimicking a Fripp-like mathematical approach to playing. No matter the song, it's all good, and this is a disc I recommend be played loud for best effect. Live, these guys must crush it.

Track List

1. Miniature Habitats
2. Velcro Thunder Fuck
3. Scraping Skies
4. Escalator Jazz
5. 10th Graders Forever
6. Canna
7. Snowed In
8. Addendum
9. Ahs a Vahs a Vae

Added: April 12th 2014
Reviewer: Dana Lawrence
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 2208
Language: english

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