...AND SO WE DESTROYED EVERYTHING

A refreshing new collection of Post Rock/Math Rock songs from some very technically talented instrumentalists who are also very creative composers. As said by Braid, there is really nothing terribly new or earth-shatteringly groundbreaking in terms of PR/MR sound or structure, it's just refreshing to here an attempt in this sub-genre by some very competent, creative musicians. The drumming is especially vibrant and unusually (for this sub-genre) varied as played by a very talented Aussie, Will Smith. Also, guitar playing isn't so rote and mathematical as many other PR/MR groups. There is variety, texture, emotion, and skill on display here.

1. "to you they are birds, to me they are voices in the forest" (08:18) begins with an peaceful ambient nature intro before blaring guitars and belted drums burst upon the scene for a about 45 seconds. A lull ensues with U2-like drums and bass before tremolo guitars and pulsating synths join in. Another more delicate glock'n'spiel lull before all sound barriers are broken again. Very cool staccato bass and drum section reminiscent of GENESIS' "Watcher of the Skies." Duel synth and two guitar melodies compete for attention while weaving into a background tapestry within which voice and then rapidly strummed guitar melody bring forward new melodies. Synths, guitar and later violin bring back melodies sans drums or bass to end. A lot of MY BLOODY VALENTINE feel in this one. Awesome song. (18/20)

2. "in limbs and joints" (04:29) begins with an awesome echoing rapidly picked guitar which is then joined by whole group chord bursts (and what an awesome chord it is!) This is not your typical Post/Math rock, folks! There is complex thought and structure behind these songs--chords, layers, and progressions. The song establishes a rather heavy but not so thick that you can't distinguish all of the various instruments and their contributions. (9/10)

3. "our time is short but your watch is slow" (03:10) begins with spacey 'radio-wave' and 'whale' like sounds while TANGERINE DREAM driving synth rhythm emerges slowly to take over the pacing of the song. Midi-ed piano, glock & other background wash synth sounds play a note by note lead while volume-pedaled guitar chords gently guide the melody. Nice song. Not so Post/Math rock. (9/10)

4. "a gaze blank and pitiless as the sun" (11:06) begins with a sampled speech from some post-apocalyptic American film. Guitar and drum rhythms soon establish themselves in much a GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT way and sound. By 2:30 a really rockin' groove has been established involving the whole band but isolating the original guitar in a non-stop ripping solo. A little lull before a new variation at 3:30 establishes itself with a bit more power chord play from guitars, synth voice and deep resonating bass. Incredible drum play. Song morphs a bit, in true Post rock style, before amping up--almost to RIVERSIDE-type levels--the heaviness and decibel levels. 5:55 stop! Sensitive guitar, synth, and echoed drum play begin to slowly re-build. Lead sustained-note guitar lead creeps into the mix around the seven minute mark. Another brief breather at 7:50 before a new chord progression with militarized drums and wild cymbol crashes while layers of trumpets and mellotron voices build up layers around the guitars. Amazing section. All comes to a kind of DEAD CAN DANCE/YES end of "Awaken" gentle end at 9:30 while synth washes and lone trumpet continue on, carrying the song to its peaceful end. (20/20)

5. "(hello) cloud mountain" (03:22) begins with some synthesized sounds in a CHROMA KEY kind of way. Guitar and keyboard arpeggios join in before another pretty basic U2-like bass and drum pattern establish themselves. ICEHOUSE-like synth bell notes take the melody lead for a minute during a little lull before the band kicks it back in again. Definitely more synthetic/electronic usage and sound to this one. (8/10)

6. "now we rise and we are everywhere" (06:42) begins with gentle ambient synths over which recording of children playing on a school playground sound. A fast bouncing Stick-like chord enters, followed by slow volume-pedaled guitar notes. By the two minute mark a trip-hoppy drum and bass rhythm is established. Pause around the three minute mark before fast and slow guitar arpeggios play off one another in opposite channels. At 3:50 an awesomely grooving thick bass and rock drum beat establish themselves beneath the two guitars and synths. At 4:35 the instruments all gel into a full-force Post Rock/Math Rock climax, not unlike MOGWAI or MONO. Fade out back with children playground as in the intro. (9/10)

7. "we like you when you're awkward" (02:36) begins with a sound quite reminiscent of either VANGELIS' Blade Runner soundtrack or a New Age/meditation song. Soon the drips and synths become part of the background as they are joined by computer click'n'pop rhythms and two WILL ACKERMAN-like acoustic guitars picking their arpeggiated rhythms in the opposite channels. Cool song! (9/10)

8. "....and so we destroyed everything" (12:20) begins with a piano chord! The solo piano continues playing very delicately for thirty seconds before any other sound joins it: a bouncy synth in the upper keys slowly emerges. At 1:30 the rest of the band comes CRASHING in, a fast tremolo picked electric guitar taking over the melody established by the piano. At 3:53 heavy guitar chords are introduced and at 4:15 they take over making the song sound quite heavy metal for while. Tremolo-picked guitar returns through the heaviness, all building in crescendo until 5:56 when the bottom drops out and we're left with a keyboard playing a pretty melody in a KLAUS SCHULZE kind of way. Trippy-hop programmed drums and acoustic guitars join in at the 6:33 mark. At 7:17 volumes pick up a bit while live drums return, bass carries forward a very cool melody, and electric guitars are now picked where the acoustic were. Heavy guitar chords and crashing cymbol play join in until at 8:38 the full power chords, tremolo eleoctric guitar lead, and now voices are added to the mix. By 9:26 the voices have left while the band carries forward its heavy yet melodic theme. At 10:00 everything drops away again except for voice, acoustic guitar, background synth wash and the same trip-hoppy drum program from before. All instruments begin to fade out: voice, synth, and, finally, drum program, leaving only a bare guitar playing its arpeggio theme to end. Awesome multi-part, multi-layered song. (25/25)

Check this one out, people--it will NOT bore you with its repetition and predictability (though, in the end, it is still mostly PR/MR structured and, therefore, somewhat predictable. But then again, isn't prog as a whole also somewhat predictable?) Synths/keys, trumpets, strings, varied guitar effects, and even 'vocals' make this an interesting and enjoyable listen--repeatedly, too. Try it out.

Five stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music. Sleepmakeswaves has created an album that is definitely an excellent addition to any prog rock music collection. IMO, this is the Best Post Rock album of 2011 and definitely one that keeps the sub-genre alive and moving forward.