Album Review

Album Review: Petricor – First Breath

Petricor First Breath
Standard

Petricor enter our awareness with their debut release on Fluttery Records. What better place to start! First Breath releases during a year that has seen a resurgence of quality releases after what some have said has been a drought in instrumental music. Fitting that Petricor is the name they chose to help frame their identity. Emotive, crescendo brimming Post Rock at its finest. Even the album art can be seen as the duality of the internal narrative. Their music toes the thin line between introspect and what we project to those around us to see, or hear for that matter.

First Breath rises from the sediment and ash like a heat wave you can see through the distance. Frail waves of texture deftly coat your senses, and slowly lift your mood like an Elysian zephyr weaving beneath a deep canopy. Melodies that shimmer with an ethereal construct designed to reconcile our varied perception into one accord. Each track begins with a coy hook to ignite my interest and cement my commitment to listen beyond a long proven Post Rock formula. Prudent synths augment the whole versus overshadowing their arrangements. Petricor do a classy job in staving off overproduction and do not succumb to the addition of too many elements.

The only song with vocals, the album’s title track, articulates the dichotomy that lies within the debilitating manifests of emotion, that wanting to flee that which perils us to feel. But no matter how far you run, you are still right there. The old adage of “Time heals all wounds” is only superficially sound in its context. Surface wounds yield in time, but those that exist beneath have their own life cycle.

Petricor’s first musical statement urges us to shake off the saddle of the ties that bind us to a static being and embrace growth as a mission, not only a far flung idea. There is no silver bullet for Post Rock. And yes, we have heard this musical equation before, but Petricor execute it just right! Listen further. Trust me.

Petricor links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petricortheband
Bandcamp: https://petricor-band.bandcamp.com/album/first-breath
Fluttery Records page: https://flutteryrecords.com/flttry173

Lance Turner

Album review: Jakob – Sines

Jakob Sines Vinyl Cover
Standard

Sines is the eagerly awaited fourth album from post-rock trio Jakob and when I say awaited, I mean it! Fans have waited eight years for new music. Jakob’s previous release, Solace, was released all the way back in 2006. Of course I am biased because I’m a New Zealander, but I honestly think Jakob are the best in the world at what they do.

I share this review pretty late because vinyl pressing was delayed, causing my precious double LP copy to arrive four weeks later than expected. I’ve listened to the digital download many times, but I wanted to be able to read through the liner notes before I write my review.

I needn’t have waited. I already knew that Wellington composer and past collaborator Rhian Sheehan had a part to play in the arrangements on this album. His touch is noticeable. Each song seems to be more crafted than those from Jakob’s back catalogue. Sheehan also organised the strings sections that feature on the tracks “Emergent” and “Harmonia”. The stringed sextet really make a difference to the sound. There is a glimmering brightness in the midst of the swells and waves.

The additions of strings adds an ephemeral dose of magic to the music, as does the addition of piano on “Darkness”. It’s these small changes that help Sines stand out as a progressive step for Jakob. The strings and keys are delicate and subtle, yet make a noticeable difference.

Jakob Tuning Fork Maurice

And of course, let’s not forget the music made by the three band members themselves. Without them the additional touches are worthless. They have the same formula that they’ve used in the past: Cultivate a riff or a beat. Nurture it. Let it grow and thrive and establish roots. Let it sizzle and hum and gain momentum, wailing and looping and building. And when the simmering and bubbling is about to overflow, unleash it.

The album highlight for me is the track “Emergent”. It stands out as quite a departure from the other songs because it doesn’t feature any drums, and because of the aforementioned stringed accompaniment. It’s a beautiful, tender track that almost makes your eyes do that weird wet thing that you get when you cut onions.

Sines is instantly recognisable as a release from Jakob. They are not re-inventing themselves. There is no risk of offending their established fan base. Sines is a continuation and improvement of an already perfect formula. By recruiting additional musicians to help with the recording and crafting of the album, Jakob have built on their already impressive reputation and cemented themselves as one of the best post-rock bands out there.

Jakob San Fran Jeff

This review was originally posted on Stereofox.com

You can also read my live review of Jakob playing at San Francisco Bathhouse in Wellington.

Joseph James