|
|
|
BANDS: Punk
& Ska INTERESTS: Venues ETC... About LOTD
|
Alcian Blue: Slow Colorless Stare (EP)
This was not
a hard review to write. The real
challenge in writing these things is finding the balance between the subjective
and objective. I wanted to fairly
describe the discs sound and convey a sense of how the band pulls it off
stylistically. But I wanted to do it in a way that allows the reader to decide
for himself whether or not he wants to pick the disc up.
And of course I wanted to explain my own opinion of the work.
Alcian Blue
makes it easy on me; you already know their sound.
Remember the early 90s? A
few bands back then were pioneering a sound characterized by a very distinctive
guitar distortion: slow dreamy
melodies and de-emphasized vocals. You
might have heard of a few of them, like My Bloody Valentine and Ride.
Throw in a little Sonic Youth and some Boo Radleys and you will know
exactly what Alcian Blue sounds like. No
real effort is made to update or expand the sound.
Sure, you can feel a little bit of post-rock coming in here and there,
but ultimately, Slow Colorless Stare always stays true to the shoegazer
format. This really seems to be working for Alician Blue; they pull
off their retro sound so well that you can hardly tell that this disc is not a
decade old. I particularly like the
first track, Touch; it is a slow-building, distorted instrumental of the
type for which I have always been a sucker.
On other tracks, like Channel, some dreamy vocals are thrown
(sometimes barely) into the mix and the tempo is kicked up.
This album can be purchased at Clairecords LEFT OFF THE DIAL's Alcian Blue page About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content © LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
