Enemy Reel - ...For and Acted Upon Through Diversions
(First Flight)
First Flight would be a great name for a record label from North Carolina, but they're from Missouri, which frustrates me greatly. It makes me think that when they thought of names for the label, they just went with the first thing that came to mind. The label's flagship band, The Potomac Accord, is similarly frustrating, as their Slintisms provide little new to those who've spent the last 10 years suffering through uninspiringly Slintish bands. The label's newest release looks on the surface to be more of the same: Constellation-esque sounds, Constellation-esque packaging, and quotes from a "diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic" on the back cover (maybe he is quoting Iron Maiden too). Time for another dismissive review, right? Well, not exactly. Underneath that derivative looking surface is, yes, a very derivative band, however there are enough pretty melodies and crushing crescendos to look past the fact that everything here comes from Mogwai or Godspeed You Black Emperor. For example, the dainty guitar part during the quiet sections of "A New Beginning" provides a nonchalantly pretty melody and a shimmering tone. The stuttering drums, vibes, and organ drone of "Hence, Therefore Again" are similarly pleasing, creating a very liquid sound that seems to glide. The mixing of the songs creates a very cinematic sound, creating depth and ambiance, like when trumpets blurt in the distance of "Uneasy, the Crossing Guard" or when the tones of "They Are Cohercing Ideas Into the Mind" start to echo during the swell of sound. Definitely don't bother trading in your old Do Make Say Think records for Enemy Reel, but if you still get some mileage out of those records, this one might be worth adding too.
|
