OTHER TRUTHS

Being a band that I've just been getting acquainted with for the last two months, I must confess that Canadian post-rock outfit Do Make Say Think has caused a very good impression on me ? their 2009 release "Other Truths" is a powerful indication of the sort of refreshment (or one of sundry possible sorts) that the post-rock genre needs to go on in a healthy state. Some fans and connoisseurs have praised this band as a current leader of the most recent developments in the post-rock area, and I clearly see their point. With a repertoire of four tracks that doesn't get to the 45 minute mark, "Do Make Say Think" makes an excellent statement of suggestive elaborations ? in some passages, similarities with Tortoise, Isis or the legendary Godspeed You Black Emperor! can be traced, but none of these references scares away the Muses that drive this ensemble's originality. The opening sequence of 'Do' brings a gentle mood of guitar, trumpet and sax, fluidly intertwined with an aim on the construction of the first main body, which happens to be dynamic and ethereal simultaneously. The agile rhythm section allows the whole instrumentation to convey contemplation and enthusiasm equally. Once this section ends, things shift toward a different landscape, one drawn with shades of languid density. At one point, some industrial ornaments settle in before the effective abrupt ending. A good starter, indeed, but there's still more room for exciting music, as 'Make' comes to show immediately after. 'Make' offers, at first, a slightly more constrained expressiveness, with a slower tempo bathed in jazzy cascades. Once the track gets to a climatic point, a melancholic intensity fills the room with a combination of brightness and grayness, preserving the climax in a solid manner. Once this continuing climax ends, the minimalistic coda arrives to wrap things up in a most spacey way. 'Say' starts on a repetitive note, as if stating the soundtrack to a scene in which a character is carefully leaving his hiding place. It won't be long before a controlled storm of rocking energy emerges in a polished alternation of suave nuances and powerful moods ? the dual guitars are focused on their usual business of faithfully complementing each other, and in this case, the sonic result is particularly captivating. The final section retakes the opening motif with an emphasized languidness, ultimately leading to a lovely choral arrangement. 'Think' ends the album with an exclusive focus on the eerie aspects that had already been present in 'Make' and 'Say', still reinforcing the jazzy element in the basic cadences. The litany character that this track seems to emphasize so purposely makes it perfect to complete the listening experience with a reflective intention ? a lovely way to finalize the experience with an album like this. In conclusion, DMST has delivered an excellent item for this year 2009.