Air - Alone in Kyoto

This track makes me want to perform open heart surgery. The song builds slowly, minimalistically, with acoustic guitar and mellow pads. The recurring beep reminds me a lot of an electrocardiogram. It climaxes with repeated piano chords, phasing in and out and reinventing the melody from the ground up time and time again. The harmonies are dramatic but not overdone and not by any means exhaustive. The kind of track where you can appreciate the tension. Ends comfortably with adequate resolution, albeit entirely on a down note. Good for sleeping, good for relaxing, as subtly alarming as it is.

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High Places - High Places

Rating: 8
Links:
- Blogspot
- Myspace

For all you Animal Collective enthusiasts, High Places will take you to an abode most comfortable. The zips, zaps, and boinks that make up those familiar, maniacal rhythms you've come to appreciate from the aforementioned art-noisers seem to reign prevalent on this album. Tribal clicks and beeps give the songs a very primitive electronic feel, a Caveman's musique concrète. One very distinct feel is lent to it by a soft-spoken songbird by the name of Mary Pearson, unlike that of the high-pitched whine we've come to expect from Avey Tare and friends. The lyrics and vocals don't particularly strike a presence to me, partially because I'm not one to care for them, but I will add that they compliment the instrumentation in a way which is truly enjoyable. The variety of sound is daunting, with melodies crashing and criss-crossing through headphones and speakers every which way. If you like experimental, I can almost guarantee that you'll enjoy High Places.

Album Highlights: "The Tree With the Lights In It," "Gold Coin," and "Namer"