Windy & Carl - Consciousness
(Kranky)
Space rock pioneers Windy & Carl have always been at
the forefront of their genre. With trend setting
albums like Drawing of Sound and Depths under their
belt (not to mention a long line of excellent singles,
EPs, and compilation appearances), expectations for
the follow-up to 1998's Depths were very, very high
(especially for me). Fortunately, Consciousness
continues the line of development that produced these
previous triumphs.
If 1998's Depths was the bands foray into darker,
more brooding territory then Consciousness is a
triumphant return to the tranquil, airiness of albums
like Drawing of Sound and their side project Once
Dreamt. The album begins with "The Sun" which, with a
single, clear guitar theme, draws a line that is
simple--but perfectly so. The album develops from
this simple beginning into a rich texture of blurred
sound and fuzzy warmth which is surprisingly direct.
Where many bands of similar direction choose lengthy
drones that blur into one giant composition, Windy &
Carl have condensed and clarified their sound into
distinct, but coherent pieces that build upon, rather
than blur into each other.
For me, the highlight of the album is "The Llama's
Dream," which begins with what may be the most richly
textured and layered bass and guitar drone that has
ever been made. It develops from there into a more
direct and rhythmic section that features vocals and a
clear, strummed guitar theme. This song seems to be
the climax of the development of the album, which then
continues from its simple, single guitar beginning in
"The Sun" to its dispersal into thick, warm drones.
Consciousness is easily Windy & Carl's most direct
and coherent album. It synthesizes the experiments
seen in their previous work and develops and focuses
these directions into what is their most mature and
rewarding album to date.
|
