SOLACE

"Solace" is the third studio album from this Post-Rock band out of New Zealand, released in 2006. As the title would suggest they've made a recording here that has a calming affect on the listener overall, and this is certainly true when compared to their first two albums. I really like that album cover as well.

"Malachite" builds from the start with bass and guitars as the drums join in. After 2 1/2 minutes things get louder and surprisingly emotional. It settles back then that emotional section returns after 4 1/2 minutes. It's most powerful a minute later to the end. "Pneumonic" has this heavy distorted sound that pulses as the drums beat early on. A spacey calm arrives before 3 1/2 minutes then it kicks in even harder than before after 4 minutes with distorted guitars playing over top of the powerful pulsating sounds. "Lonesome" has a slow beat with Post-Rock styled guitars off in the distance to start. It gradually builds to an emotional sound after 4 minutes. It then settles right down before 6 minutes and it continues to wind down to the end.

"Oran Mor" has a spacey start as a beat joins in and more. Love the bass here. A distorted wall of guitars arrives 2 minutes in followed by a calm before 3 1/2 minutes. It then rebuilds. "Safety In Numbers" is spacey and laid back as a beat joins in. Guitars come in over top after 2 1/2 minutes. Man this sounds good 4 minutes in as it gets a little louder. A calm a minute later but it's brief as it kicks back in more powerful than ever. It settles back once again this time to the end. "Everything All The Time" has this spacey and drifting sound to it with a slow beat. This is good! It's building after 2 1/2 minutes to a more powerful sound thanks to the guitars. A calm follows before 4 minutes as we get this slow pulsating sound and it's also very spacey. This continues to the end. "Saint" sort f continues where the final 6 plus minutes of the previous track left off. This all reminds me somewhat of "The Sky Moves Sideways" sound. It settles back even more late.

Without question this is an album every Post-Rock fan needs to hear. A solid 4 stars and a very enjoyable listen.