HYMN TO THE IMMORTAL WIND

Some may describe this album as "more of the same" from Japanese Post Rock/Math Rock maestros, Mono, and while it is similar or continuous with my favorite Mono album, 2006's "You Are There," the music is still fresh and unique enough--and the Mono approach to Post Rock/Math Rock so pleasurable--that I still can only give this album my highest recommendation. It's great--and very emotional--when given your undivided attention, but also very pleasant as beautiful background music.

1. "Ashes in the Snow" (11:46) standard Post Rock formula: soft opening, slow-build tsunami rise to full-scale crescendo, calm and repeat. Great second crescendo. (21.75/25)

2. "Burial at Sea" (10:39) more formulaic, albeit orchestrated, Post Rock. Built upon an okay melody. (17.25/20)

3. "Silent Flight, Sleeping Dawn" (6:00) a melodic favorite; very emotional. (9.125/10)

4. "Pure as Snow (Trails of the Winter Storm)" (11:26) spacious and delicate, even cinematic. (17.5/20)

5. "Follow the Map" (3:56) lap steel guitar leading the way over piano and lush strings orchestration. I like the way the band lets the strings step into the fore in the second half--Joe Hisaishi-like. (8.875/10)

6. "The Battle to Heaven" (12:51) droning guitar provides the background as guitar, bass, and drums gradually, slowly build a song around/above it. Low end note play leads the way for the first three minutes. I really like the "monstrous" uptake at 4:10. Nice drumming throughout. The song has nice swings and sways through different melodic octaves but overall it's a bit long/overextended. (21.75/25)

7. "Everlasting Light" (10:23) droning (tremoloed) electric guitar with near-classical piano playing over the top for the first two minutes. Awesome orchestral boost with the piano's "chorus" at the two-minute mark. When the rock instruments and orchestra build to the point of drowning out the piano (and almost the drums) it's pretty dramatic but not quite as melodic as some of their all-time great songs--though I do love the effect at the nine-minute mark when the high-end guitar playing drops to low (I can really hear the drums and orchestra then). (17.625/20)

Total Time 67:01

Four stars; a wonderful aural experience. Great album art--one of the reasons I picked up the album in the first place. (This was my first Mono acquisition.) Definitely recommended to the Post Rock lover.