SINES

The only negative thing about Jakob was the long hiatus between their previous album, Solace, and this album, but boy was it worth the wait. One of the finest post-rock albums I have had the pleasure of hearing. The opener "Blind them With Science" is among the highlights, continuing the type of sound found on Solace, whereby drummer Jason Johnston is almost the lodestone, providing the underlying pulse and foundation on which the other two members can create - a canvas, if you will. The album as a whole, however, finds Jakob going a bit more minimalist, abstract, and ambient than their previous recordings, and this approach finds its most extreme instantiation in the title track, where drums are absent, ending the album with a mystical ambient drone which gradually builds up layers upon layers, almost like an orchestra gradually swelling. In between the aforemention tracks is plenty to admire and be swept up in, from the beautiful ballads "Emergent" and "Darkness" to the sweeping majesty of "Magna Carta", "Resolve", and "Harmonia". The entire album is captivating and engrossing from start to finish. Initially I was unsure that the wonderful Solace could be bested but these gentlemen have done it again. When I find myself in the mood for post-rock/ambient I inevitably reach for this record. Highest possible recommendation.

Flawless, sophisticated Post Rock from New Zealand, this is such an odd and welcome Post Rock album for the use and presence of a strings section on almost every song. Very worthy of your attention.

Five star songs: a soft, almost country/classical song due to its lavish strings arrangement, 2. "Emergent" (5:08) (9.5/10); a very catchy, melodic chord progression grows in a MONO way with tremolo guitars and great drumming before strings arrangement takes over the final third, 4. "Harmonia" (6:05) (9.5/10); atmospheric layers of guitars with insistent drums and bass, 1. "Blinded Them With Science" (6:57) (9/10); a spacious, spacey keyboard-filled soundscape with gently rolling tom play and bass lines builds gently, in a kind of ROBIN GUTHRIE-HAROLD BUDD way, 6. "Darkness" (5:37) (9/10), and; a really perfect soundscape with an awesome drum and bass play to go with the atmospheric guitars that flounders a bit in the second half--maybe didn't need to be this long, 5. "Resolve" (9:11) (9/10).

Four star songs: until the final two minutes, this rondo-like song is very formulaic in the standard PR tradition, 3. "Magna Carta" (6:15) (8.5/10) and the final song which sounds a bit like a slowed down, slightly edgier version of the first half of #3 "Magna Carta," 7. "Sines" (5:27) (7.5/10).

A near-masterpiece of progressive rock music and one of the better Post Rock albums I've ever heard.