Our inaugural review here at The Astronaut Farm scopes out Austin, Texas's own The Calm Blue Sea. I must admit that while I know next to nothing about them, I'm pretty taken with this group. Under the "influences" category of TCBS's webpage, they list "White Noise, Black Coffee, Defeat, Victory, Oceans, Whiskey and lies . . . and The Beatles." What's not to like?
Wittiness aside, the music is compelling. TCBS are savvy enough to realize they need to differentiate themselves from the litany of "post-rock" clones, and they do so with an invigorating series of tracks that stretches their creative abilities as well as the listener's imagination. These tracks speak from ambient whispers to wall-rattling roars without becoming repetitive or even derivative. "We Happy Few," the album's opening track, unfolds into a full-tilt sonic assault, though the guitar arrangements wisely resist falling into the now-obligatory "Mono sound." This is a more melodic timbre, though often subtler and perhaps darker than the likes of Explosions in the Sky.
The Calm Blue Sea boasts a wealth of dynamic range as well. Though much of the record maintains a somewhat standard instrumental format, "Literal" allows the inclusion of a very well-executed vocal track and the constant refrain "you were so literal." The album's closing track, "This Will Never Happen Again," invokes an ominous spoken voice sample layered over a chilly melody, only to somersault into cymbal swells and apocalyptic guitar noise. To be pithy, this band can do it all. Check this one out, space cadets!
--Major Tom
Wittiness aside, the music is compelling. TCBS are savvy enough to realize they need to differentiate themselves from the litany of "post-rock" clones, and they do so with an invigorating series of tracks that stretches their creative abilities as well as the listener's imagination. These tracks speak from ambient whispers to wall-rattling roars without becoming repetitive or even derivative. "We Happy Few," the album's opening track, unfolds into a full-tilt sonic assault, though the guitar arrangements wisely resist falling into the now-obligatory "Mono sound." This is a more melodic timbre, though often subtler and perhaps darker than the likes of Explosions in the Sky.
The Calm Blue Sea boasts a wealth of dynamic range as well. Though much of the record maintains a somewhat standard instrumental format, "Literal" allows the inclusion of a very well-executed vocal track and the constant refrain "you were so literal." The album's closing track, "This Will Never Happen Again," invokes an ominous spoken voice sample layered over a chilly melody, only to somersault into cymbal swells and apocalyptic guitar noise. To be pithy, this band can do it all. Check this one out, space cadets!
--Major Tom
Check them out on myspace!
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