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Every now and then we have to step back and take stock of some releases that have slipped by us recently. Most recently, we’ve felt the need to give some belated attention to Ghost of the Russian Empire’s impressive With Fiercest Demolition EP, Skiefalling’s debut of experimental ambient tones and, as they get ready to release a new album, Tia Carrera’s self-titled release from last October. So although all three of these were released last year, they have endured well into this one, and we didn’t want to let them get by without giving them some notice. And so we offer you: The Review Roundup!
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Ghost of the Russian Empire - With Fiercest Demolition (Thirty Ghosts)
Featuring production from Erik Wofford at Cacophony Recorders, With Fiercest Demolition is a dense, utterly beautiful collection of shoegaze-drenched gems that recall My Bloody Valentine mixed with pop sensibilities of Doves. Opening numbers “August 1914” and “Nov. 2070” trivialize the patterns and effects of time and space, creating a sense of helplessness that’s reinforced by the distant haze of guitars and Brandon Whitten’s vocals. Local handyman Kullen Fuchs adds an exotic flair of trumpet to the former, while Mike Plata’s explosive percussion pushes the latter to the brink of incineration. The dull sensation of “Psychomedicated” matches the song’s subject, the need to cure what cannot be understood. The toll of wars (“The Sovereign and a Sword”), the cyclical “Plague and Punishment” caused by political quarrels and the desire for power is cleverly weaved throughout this album; this rich subtext only adds to the levels of interest and enjoyment that multiply with each listen.
- Austin Powell
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Tia Carrera – Tia Carrera (Australian Cattle God)
Like the Die Hard soundtrack played on repeat at half speed, Tia Carrera’s self-titled album is both suspenseful and hypnotic. This time around, the Austin trio lays down seven new tracks of crunchy, distorted psychedelia that will no doubt pique a drug interest in even the most straight-laced listener. The restrained aggression of every riff reminds the listener that this album is an experience, not a casual listen, and demands us to behave accordingly. As one trudges through each of the 7+ minute songs, Jason Morales’ Hendrix-like improvisation stays steadily impressive and mesmerizing, but the actual tracks are so interchangeable that one can’t help but check every five minutes to see if the song is over. The major flaw of Tia Carrera is that with all the mood setting and experimentation, the big payoff never really comes. Nothing ever really develops into a climax, so most songs just fizzle out in a spectacular display of guitar-wankery. The pitfall of all well-established freeform bands is that their recordings lack the creative spark and in-the-moment feeling that make their live shows so legendary. Tia Carrera is no exception. While their live performances make them one of Austin’s golden boys, the momentum behind every riff seems somewhat depleted after suffering the throes of digital recording.
- Evan St. John
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Skiesfalling - EXPEP 1 - Mindbreaths (SonicSoundWave)
Skiesfalling has set their sights high with their debut release here. Intended as the first of an ongoing series, the EXPEP 1 - Mindbreaths EP is a collection of three excerpts from the band’s improvisational ambient jams. A mix of pulsing electronics and sparse piano laid on synthetic and guitar tones and subconscious bass grooves form the raw material, from which the best sort of ambient is formed. Demanding of your complete attention or none at all, the songs amble along, each part with equal measure, constant and in constant flux. The band has said that these sessions are providing the raw material to develop more polished songs, which will include an expansion to a full band with percussion. I’m excited to see how that shapes up, but even so, there’s something sublime about the stream of consciousness on Mindbreaths, free from the censor of reflection.
- Gilbert Bernstein
