ALSO RISING

"Also Rising" marks clearly the departure of the band from their improvised psychedelic debuts to a more structured music. With this album, SUBARACHNOID SPACE delivers constructed and evolving songs, rather agressive or calm, but always frightening. The addition of the air organ contributes to the mysterious atmosphere.

The opener "The Harsh Facts of Life" is a perfect example of the group's slight change of direction. Powerful and tortured, the introduction make me think a little of some passages from RADIOHEAD's "OK Computer". The second part of the song is more chaotic and mystical, yet organised and terrifying. A great moment! "Deep End" opens more slowly to grow in intensity and finally explode, to go on with he the "untitled" song, a pretty good down- tempo spacey tune taking place in the no man's land. The next track, "Angel Food" is very light and relaxing, contrasting with the band's debut raw songs.

A little jazz feel arrive with "Burn Shot" and "Tucson", both groovy and icy. The floating guitar is very inspired and will project you to another spaces. The RADIOHEAD and post-rock influences come back again with the ambient and dissonant "Dateland". Landscapes of desolation are put into music with the pounding "Down Nod Out", while destruction is featured by the powerful "Tigris" and its elongated guitar playing and vaporous atmosphere.

With this record, SUBARACHNOID SPACE rediscovers 70's psychedelia by showing more modern influences such as GOSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR!, but always with their own touch. As one of their more varied release, "Also Rising" is cold, floating, terrifying, jazzy, calm and tortured, but always deep and growing. Very recommended to psychedelic and post-rock fans.