4

Everything Is Made In China, in fact, is not a pure post-rock band, but a very talented Russian trio, which is capable of writing music of different styles. Not so long ago I saw them together with Silence Kit live in Moscow’s club B1 and was impressed a lot.

I like the way these guys compose – it would seem that all the songs on the album are quite simple both musically and structurally (and actually they are), but the breadth, feeling, depth of the songs are simply amazing. EIMIC managed to swim in the depths of post-rock their own, simpler, way – and it’s stunning that such rich, inspired and beautiful stuff can be got into by a listener quite easy.

Catch & Carry is very appropriate for opening this very album – it’s a mellow, introductory theme with lovely vocals and great closing section. Repetitive keyboards intro of Buy 4 Take One Free, followed by soft bass and efficient drumkit, embarks and submerge us in rich EIMIC sound – very atmospheric and with emotion. My Marshell is a very short and laconic piece, and quite rapid and noisy besides. Track 4 is rather a mess, but uneven and confused drums here are just perfect. I really like the next track, Fetters, most of all the songs on the album – well, it’s very simple, but chorus just can’t dash out of my head! Powerful guitars in middle section are amazing as well. It is no coincidence the next track is called After Rock – here we get a real post-rock song from EIMIC. The first half of the instrumental is pretty cool, but trite and banal; but then the second, mellow is a catchy tune. Closer begins with drum loops similar to the first track and overall is not a very memorizable song. Day Out is a strong song (leitmotif reminds me of Queensryche, I don’t know why!:)) with sudden changes and nice vocals. Speed My Way (reminds me of Pink Floyd) is my second favourite song on the album – again, just like Fetters, is quite simple, but gentle and accessible. I enjoy Maxim’s vocals here immensely together with very strong closing section. Breathe In is some kind of a filler (but nice live version is absolutely unlike this album version). We bump into a post-rock side of EIMIC music once again in Make Trade Fears – being rather lengthy it is in fact not an epic, but a 7-min song with 4 minutes of droll and funny jamming (with samples about China and the Chinese) at the end of the song. The song itself is great and again quite a catchy tune.

In conclusion I have to say that to my mind EIMIC plays very accessible post-rock, which is fantastic to be listened to. Beautiful, elegant and vast. Solid 4 stars for this excellent debut.

P.S. Cover art and sleeve design are awesome. The album is worth double the price it costs (I bought it for $7!)