Armed with only two guitars, some drums, bass, a violin, and a keyboard, The Evpatoria Report accomplish quite a lot on their latest effort Maar, released courtesy of Get a Life! Records. According to Wikipedia, the band’s moniker references the Croatian city of Evpatoria, which broadcasts an “Evpatoria message” directly into space for any roaming aliens that might be bored enough to tune in. As an astronaut myself, I can assert with confidence that listening to The Evpatoria Report is much more engaging than listen to “the Evpatoria report.”
The album’s first cut, “Eighteen Robins Road,” builds like a prairie fire, beginning with only a tinkling of keys, building towards a full on assault of guitar distortion and heavy snare drum backbeats, and then dwindling to delicate cymbal notes and a recurrent organ melody . . . and then the process begins all over again. At its most intense, Maar carries a sense of crisis beneath its crescendos. It’s as if the next progression might turn the music loose from the confines of time and space, make it fly off the rails like a wayward locomotive.
Not to break musical character, “Mithridate” builds at the same tenuous pace, the drum groove punching in and out to match what sounds like e-bow guitar. This track leaves room for some space instead of gunning for the rather predictable instrumental swells. Between notes, an uptight British voice divulges a scientific-sounding status report regarding the effects of an unnamed drug on human subjects (cannabis?). Frequently, spoken word segments within the post-rock genre try too hard to be profound, and TER’s example offers a refreshing departure from pomposity.
Like “Mithridate,” “Acheron” feels a bit more organic than the first two tracks—a bit more jammy. When the groove finally does materialize, I dare say it borders on “jazzy.” But then comes the build, heaving us about like insignificant little beings riding the belly of an infinite and dangerous machine, cast in the shadow of its sublime wonder and horror. In an unexpected and delightful twist, the piece ends on a high-octave guitar melody that might have been at home on the credits of The Twilight Zone.
Bottom line: The Evpatoria Report conjure an impressive body of music within just four tracks. Pull a few paperweights off the shelf and make some room for Maar.
The Evpatoria Report
The album’s first cut, “Eighteen Robins Road,” builds like a prairie fire, beginning with only a tinkling of keys, building towards a full on assault of guitar distortion and heavy snare drum backbeats, and then dwindling to delicate cymbal notes and a recurrent organ melody . . . and then the process begins all over again. At its most intense, Maar carries a sense of crisis beneath its crescendos. It’s as if the next progression might turn the music loose from the confines of time and space, make it fly off the rails like a wayward locomotive.
Not to break musical character, “Mithridate” builds at the same tenuous pace, the drum groove punching in and out to match what sounds like e-bow guitar. This track leaves room for some space instead of gunning for the rather predictable instrumental swells. Between notes, an uptight British voice divulges a scientific-sounding status report regarding the effects of an unnamed drug on human subjects (cannabis?). Frequently, spoken word segments within the post-rock genre try too hard to be profound, and TER’s example offers a refreshing departure from pomposity.
Like “Mithridate,” “Acheron” feels a bit more organic than the first two tracks—a bit more jammy. When the groove finally does materialize, I dare say it borders on “jazzy.” But then comes the build, heaving us about like insignificant little beings riding the belly of an infinite and dangerous machine, cast in the shadow of its sublime wonder and horror. In an unexpected and delightful twist, the piece ends on a high-octave guitar melody that might have been at home on the credits of The Twilight Zone.
Bottom line: The Evpatoria Report conjure an impressive body of music within just four tracks. Pull a few paperweights off the shelf and make some room for Maar.
The Evpatoria Report
—Major Tom
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