flackcaptain

this is a pretty disappointing record. Pelican seem to forget that they are the undisputed masters of lengthy instrumental metal. In my opinion they created the best 22 minutes of post metal music with the Autumn into Summer/ March Into The Sea combo on Fire in Our Throats. Something they will almost certainly never improve upon.

What we have here, though a massive improvement from City of Echoes once again fails to play on many of their strengths. There are insufficient tracks that change tempo and direction mid song. Pelican seem happy to trudge along in repetitive and predictable territory.

I would say the only truly outstanding track is Ephemeral which is the one song they successfully condense their riffs into a 5 minutes piece.

3 years ago I would've told you these guys were my favourite band on the planet. But as the reviewer correctly points out, they have now been eclipsed by Russian Circles who are continually improving whilst Pelican fall further behind.

Shame.

that would've been one of my first observations if reviewing the record, particularly as this didn't feature on either of their first 2 records.

Personally I think 65dos have run their course in terms of creativity. 4 years ago I thought they were the shit and making exciting new music but now I seldom listen to their records and find each new release a tired rehash of older records.

and it's still not clicked yet...

to put it on the other week after not hearing it for 10+ years.

To me it just illustrated how much my music tastes have changed since I was 17 back in 1996. I didn't enjoy a single track off it.

makes me totally disinterested in this or any future releases.

"There are certain holy cows of American Indie that can be guaranteed to get, at worst, good reviews for their records. Will Oldham is one (with exceptions)" - A guarantee WITH exceptions. Erm...ok.

also

"In parts it feels like a Smog album" - yeah, funny that.

Truly painful writing.

his take on 'Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye’ which is my favourite ever Cohen song. But if the guy can't sing maybe I'm best off not hearing this and being left with the memory of Leonards lovely song in tact.

Whilst not touching the ambitious heights that Chromophobia did with its unusual shifts in tone and rhythm this record certainly contains enough tunes to call it a success.

I'm slightly disappointed that No Turning Back is the only 'pop' song here and I think 6 is probably a fair score.

no thanks.

this to Mapmakers. Yes, the drumming is nowhere near as ferocious (which is the thing that 1st grabbed me about P&L) but the songs are far more anthemic and accessible. If they'd made Mapmaker2 I wouldn't be anywhere near as interested. A really good side-step.

Special mentions must be made for "Nowheres Nigh" and "Wedding in a Wasteland". 2 songs which I just cannot stop playing.

is the finest piece of music ever written. I concur.

filling p2p programs with bogus mp3s that are either silent or contain some unpleasant sound, like static. This will make the whole process time consuming, frustrating and pointless for the serial downloader and eventually close down p2p communities.

Sites like emusic.com represent incredible value and are in my opinion the future for music distribution. I buy hardly any physical music anymore - only the output by a handful of artists. 10 years ago, yes, it was nice to smell the vinyl, hold the inlay card, read the lyrics and all that crap but we all have to accept that that simply isn't the way most people consume music anymore.

Although the bit rate isn't alway cd quality from emusic I hardly notice the difference. Downloading legally and affordably is the solution I say. Now let's fill those p2p sites....

I hate the radio. I hate the Kaiser Chiefs. That fact that the 2 sometimes cross over makes it even more upsetting.

agree with most of the observations but I still think 6/10 is a bit generous.

and I don't necessarily agree with all of them - particuarly the notion that everyone should get whatever music they want for nada.

As an aside I've got some left over credits on Emusic so I think I'll download your record legally if you don't mind...

- A Grand Don't Come For Free is. But it's certainly better than A Hardest Way.

Personally I like it. But it's not for everyone.

It's more a 6/10 I reckon.

'Stop Coming To My House' isn't on Rock Action.

an abomination by Mogwai's standards.

Friend of the Night just about saves it from being a near disaster.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the piss-take remark concerning "The Sun Smells Too Loud". Not a dreaful tune by any means but one that features a rediculously boring riff for its entirity. Not a clever move.

The album is definitely a step-up from the abomination that was Mr Beast with all its awful vocal driven songs and MOR post rock lullabies. I'm really pleased that none of the Mogwai boys sang a note on this release either. Singing seems to only makes their records weaker (Cody the one exclusion to the rule, of course).

The Hawk has a flow to it not seen since Come on Die Young. I reckon 7 is a good score. Pitchforks 4.5 is a bit harsh.

I wish him a speedy recovery.

this record occasionally hits the right buttons but there is way too much filler.

I'm always put off by a record with 20+ songs on it too.

concerned that Green Mans line up was a bit toilet but now I'm beginning to feel that this weekend is going to be quite special.

I had SFA, Nina and The National already on my 'must see' list and will now check out the other 2 DiS recommendations.

Useful little piece.

I've been dying hear this song after all the fuss that's been made about it from live performances I missed earlier in the .

That driving guitar is incredible - agressive, muscular and terrifying. Why oh why don't Mogwai make more songs like this?

It is the best thing they have put out since My Father My King.

Video is ace too.

bought myself a big old Vango Tamor 500 tent to get an extra bit of space this year.

I have hatched a plan to climb Sugar Loaf on the Thursday afternoon after pitching my tent to view the site filling up from 1,500 feet up.

Fingers crossed the rain leaves the beacons alone this visit, just for 4 days.

not sure when "All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone" became a masterpiece though.

The vocals seem to have attracted some criticism whereas I think they are dispersed well and provide a pleasant diversity to the record.

I love Bring It On but seeing them play it in its entirity would just reiterate how they've stood still for 10 years.

still sound like Rod Stewart?

with Aiden when they played the Slint ATP in 2005.

It was a fantastic moment.

and probably the best debut ever made.

It certainly helped me figure out what good music sounded like and more importantly what shit music sounded like.

I own the guitar that John Cummings is playing in the video of Summer (above). My only (expensive) piece of band memorabilia, but as Mogwai are my favourite band I think it's a good one.

but my opinions are based on the last 2 albums and the 2 new songs they've made available from their latest sessions in Castle of Doom.

Is there anywhere I can hear Batcat?

I just played it twice and was really disappointed with it. Still, I suppose the days where Mogwai were ferocious and unmistakable are well behind them.

Still, i'm hopeful for the new record.

"I have never been more confident and focused about what I am doing as an artist"

yeah, good luck to you Brett. No doubt we'll get rewarded with the same old tales of lonely wives living in concrete streets and lots of "uh-ho's" thrown in to cover up his total lack of lyrical ability.

As far as I'm concerned the last 3 records he put his name to have all been utter shit. Count me out of this one.

84% of the way through downloading. come on!!

- well put

this album is definitely one of the stronger instrumental releases of the year so far.

his set at ATP was excellent. It wasn't his fault that the crowd in Reds was full of thoughtless arseholes who felt the overwhelming need to discuss what they had for dinner rather than listen to his wonderfully thought provoking music.

An amazingly talented musician who is criminally underrated.

last.fm tells me I listen to these guys more than anyone else.

Another new album is a very good idea.

I only hope this new material is more beastly than that on their last album proper.

I've yet to hear this album but am feeling a little fearful of its content now. I enjoy his first 2 albums a great deal but am slightly concerned that anyone would be bold enough to cover dEUS' masterpiece that is "Hotelounge". Their 10 minute live version of this tune is one of my favourite songs of all time so Adem better do it justice.

Look forward to hearing this... maybe with my fingers crossed.

the albums key lyrical themes (decay, looking backwards, lonliness etc) that hold the album together means the review cannot be described as brilliant I'm afraid.

Keep trying though!

I told you it was a shit review?

This is without doubt my favourite album of the year so far and one that soundtracked my holiday just gone being forever on my ipod or on the stereo.

'The Modern Leper', 'Keep Yourself Warm' and "Old Old Fashioned' are sublime pop songs showcasing the fragile voice of Hutchinson and the simple yet pounding music of the band.

I really didn't think they would top Sing The Greys but they have done so brilliantly. But I am still slightly dubious about how they will peform when I see them on Wednesday as the youtube clips have been lacklustre.

Still, this album is the absolute shit. 9/10 is a spot on score.

the cover of N-Trance's euro hit.

seems to be of going after the downloaders rather than the filesharers, which is a first.

I have recently signed up to emusic.com after recommendations from DiS and have been really pleased with it. But the downside is the number of albums available. Until someone create a legitimate service where all music is available at a reasonable price (20p per song?) then this problem will still continue.

how come they never tour the UK? They are one of the bands I am most eager to see and ferociously loud by all accounts.

Caspian "unknowns"!!!

with the 2 birds of prey? that was class.

was a massive disapointment to me. Young Mountain showed such promise, (particualrly the epic final song). TWDY's (slightly) aggressive slant offered an appealing post rock choice to the endless supply of dullsome instrumental bands out there.

But they have wasted the opportunity with a really average record. Alot of the songs are way too long and fail to develop into anything other than generic instrumental recordings. The inclusion of processed percussion on one or two tracks is a mild distraction but fails to provide any real diversity to the listening experience.

I agree with steveholts comments that Caspian are the post rock band everyone should be namechecking these days rather than the obvious Mogwai, EITS comparisons. The American website TheSilentBallet.com is the place anyone with a real passion for instrumental should be reading these days. I think DiS mainly caters for 'The Next Big English Bands' these days which is why I've lost alot of interest.