Pelican - What We All Come to Need

I am currently listening to the latest album from Chicago based post rock outfit Pelican. I do think however that by putting them into that post rock outfit is perhaps a bit unfair. These guys write soaring progressive instrumental monoliths.

I first got into this band about a year ago when i picked up there 3rd album City Of Echoes and really liked what i heard. I recognised that these guys were fairly dense and maybe not for the everyday listener but as always that is what i found myself drawn to it thanks to my love for the band Tool ( Aenima is absolutely one of my all time favourite records and still astounds me as it always sounds fresh and inspiring. It doesn't feel like i have listened to it a 1000 times - Anyway back to the review. ) These guys obviously take there cues from bands like Tool and perhaps more importantly ISIS, even to the point where Aaron Turner ( lead singer ISIS ) guests on track 3 "Ephemeral" Pelican have actually been around for quite a while forming the band in 2001 and releasing there first record Australasia in 2003. It should also be said that one of the main reasons why i was excited about this record is that the great Southern Lord were distributing. For those not in the know Southern Lord is home to the great Sunn O))) ( yes i am aware that it cant be pronounced - I just call them Sunn ) Sunn O are one of the most heavy, ambient, powerful, difficult, Loud and noisy bands i have ever spent time with. There latest records Monoliths and Dimension is tough even for people that like the band but extremely rewarding if you have the patience. Greg Anderson also guests on this Pelican album. I don't normally do this but i have to post this link to a Blog where this guy reviews seeing Sunn live in concert. His blog is called The Needle Drops and is well worth checking out.

http://theneedledrop.blogspot.com/2009/09/staring-into-sunn-o.html

Anyway i seem to be veering away from the topic quite a bit which i should get back to. I only have 2 tracks for this latest effort from Pelican and i must say that i am greatly impressed. Everything about this record is a step up from what has kind of irritated me in the past. I always feel that no matter how much i like a band and get a little obsessive over it there always tends to be something that stops a band being greater than what they actually are. In Pelicans case its they are living in the Shadow of there bigger counterparts, namely the aforementioned bands Isis and Tool as well as countless others. Do not take this as a reason to not at least check out this record as its is streaming in its entirety on there Myspace page which i will leave a link for as usual. I don't know how long it will be there so you should be quick.

Whats going on i just the last track "Final Breath" and vocals have appeared. This is interesting as it is letting the band ebb and flow in a completely different way. Did not expect that. Maybe this is a sign that they are moving in a new direction

Thanks for reading.

http://www.myspace.com/pelican

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelican_%28band%29

For those interested i am also going to pleave links for the other bands that i have spoken about in my review.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunn_O)))

http://www.myspace.com/southernlordrecordings

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_%28band%29



Still haven't decided what my next review should be. Any suggestions ?

Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport

I know it has been a while since my last post but i really must tell you about this new record i got tonight. I am currently listening to it for the first time and i quite literally amazed so far of how good it is. The record is by a English duo who go by the name of Fuck Buttons. These 2 guys released a album in 2004 called Street Horrrsing. I picked up that record not thinking that it would change my world and i was mainly right. There was something about it though that made me take notice of what these guys could possibly do. The best way to describe there music is noisy electronica with a melodic edge.

Just wait a second.... Just hit Track 4 ( Olympians) and its still awesome.

I keep waiting for it to get to something that isnt that interesting. The album starts off with Surf Solar which starts off with a clash of noise then a driving beat kicks in and the 4 on the floor starts. It then keeps driving with a noisy loop predimantely being front and centre for a good portion of the track. This music is all about layering and the composition of placing these sounds together. Whats most impressive is that Fuck Buttons have managed to be interesting and experimental yet Listenable. All the tracks merge into one another but even though thus may feel like a big long mix each tracks soon finds its own identity...

Track 5 ( Phantom Limb )... This ones a bit noiser than the rest. There is almost a Electro Clash vibe to this one. I dont really know how to describe this one. Its a bit full on. Definately the weakest track i have heard so far. Thats Ok it only goes for 4.50.

One thing i will say is that i always appreciate Electronic artists that know there equipment and these guys have great sounds with great beats. I would definately recomend this to anyone who has a interest in Electronica with noisy but a highly Rhytmic edge. Definately a step up from there previous record and one that i am certain will be getting pulled out of the collection for a long while yet.

Track 6 ( Space Mountain )... back to awesome. Tribal drums with Fuzzed out guitars and keyboard loops in the background. I can forgive the previous tracks indescretion.

Track 7 ( Flight of the Feathered Serpant )... Last track on the album. More of the same but that is not a bad thing. Driving drums are defiantely the focus on the second half of this record.

I highly recomend this album. I havent had a first listen that has made me this excited about a new record for a while. Check it out

Nathan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuck_Buttons

http://www.myspace.com/fuckbuttons