Explosions in the Sky - How Strange, Innocence (2000) #Review
Hi friends, on this occasion I present you another incredible Post-Rock band. Another one of my favorites, and one of the first to listen. Through them I want to demonstrate the musical diversity of Post-Rock. Because if we compare them with my previous review of 65Daysofstatic. You can see that their music is totally different, they only have instrumental fragments, but with very different ideas and rhythms. Explosions in the Sky, is characterized by being much more somber and with very melodic guitars, and a little less electronic than the English. This is without a doubt another great band in the post-rock scene
Explosions in The Sky is a quartet from Austin, Texas. Formed in 1999. I will present below, their debut album. Which was reissued in 2005. It's my favorite, I really like the style of the band, very simple, sombre and creating very emotional harmonies. The structure of the album is a bit simple, with a very marked progression, since each song starts a bit soft, to advance to the climax in the last minutes. It is an album for those who like to enjoy music to reflect and relax. Where you must interpret the sounds of the atmosphere created by EITS yourself, to create your own environment and your own lyrics. It's like a very emotional and at the same time grim soundtrack.
How Strange, Innocence
Band: | Explosions in the Sky |
Album: | How Strange, Innocence |
Year: | 2000 |
Genre: | Post-Rock |
Country | Texas, US. |
1. This album starts with the best, without a doubt. Titled "A Song for Our Fathers" , this wonderful composition, starts very smooth with very melodic guitars and a very attractive and relaxing sound. Then in minute 2:50 fall in a tense calm, and seconds later explode in its maximum splendor. A very hypnotizing and progressive sound throughout the whole song.
2. After a wonderful start, we went to perhaps the weakest part of the album, entitled "Snow and Lights", I really like the strong introduction, but then immersed in a very emotional sound, but very repetitive and monotonous, perfect for sleeping.
3. With a soft start, start "Magic Hours", A sound that increases the first minutes, incorporating more rhythm and distortion in the guitar, which is very interesting. This creates a very nice melody, which then falls in half into a soft and melancholy little void. So that finally in the last 3 minutes this sound evolves and increases accompanied by the drums and incredible riffs, which reach their maximum splendor in the 7th minute, to close in the best way a good piece.
4. The next "Look into the Air" It is a soft theme, with very good melody and rhythm. Despite its softness, the riffs are fully heard and guide the song at all times. After a small decrease in the melody, as in the other songs, it explodes at the end when distortions and drums appear. Excellent final, very good song.
5. The next one, I like it a lot, it's called "Glittering Blackness". Start with a good melody, accompanied by the cymbal, and then explode a bit with the drums and distortion. Then it falls into a beautiful softness, for in the last sections show some riffs a little faster and very good. I really like the sound of the last minutes.
6. "Time Stops", With a few very monotonous first minutes, something soft and sad. But in the second half the song changes completely. With a moment that is worth waiting for, a melody that tells us that at some point it will explode, and just like that happens, leading to an impressive climax, accompanied by the drums in the best way. A splendid ending with great strength. Very good song!
7. Finally this work closes with "Remember Me as a Time of Day", A very sad theme, but when the drums appear, grab another more happy mood. It's a song that never really explodes, it's very tenuous, but it's still pretty good. Another beautiful melody to complete.
I really liked this album, despite not being one of the great works of Post-Rock, it was the beginning of one of the most outstanding bands, that although the quality was not very good, and had to be reissued in the year 2005, the work I consider to be really good, with good arrangements, something simple, but with a very good music, somber and hypnotizing. Explosions in The Sky, has created with its music very bright atmospheres. I recommend you give them a chance, regards friends!
Really cool review - great work.
I'm listening now! Thanks!!!
Ps. Maybe define what post-rock means to you? To helps those of us with the larger meaning of it? Cool expansive music...
It is really difficult to define that gender! The simplest thing is to say that it is all that group, lacking voices, that makes a kind of rock, not at all similar to the traditional, with very different rhythms and structures! In short experimental instrumental rock bands!
The problem is, when comparing two bands like 64Daysofstatic and Explosions in the sky! That in spite of being labeled in the same genre, and playing instrumental solo rock! They do not look like anything, or I feel that way!
In conclusion, for many it is a very monotonous genre! But for me it is very diverse, due to the large number of musical atmospheres that each group creates! Which contrast enough! I believe that the purpose of this genre is to create sounds that are subjectively interpreted according to the state of mind! I do not know if you understand me!