THE EARTH IS NOT A COLD DEAD PLACE

Explosions in the Sky prove that you don't need a huge ensemble to create beautiful, epic and uplifting progressive post rock. This is a superb album and very original, leaning more towards the styles of Mogwai than Godspeed You Black Emperor! There are less cliches on this album and it seems a bit more straight forward. No E-bows, looming basslines, obscure effects, titles and vocals etc. that has become post rock fashion. EITS aren't trying to reinvent post rock, they are just playing their own paced, stripped down yet tremendously effective version of post rock.

Each song here is an instrumental that builds up into great climaxes. The moods and emotions of the music seem to tell a story, hinted by the instrumental titles. This is a pretty good starting album for those new to prog rock as it isn't too pretentious and it is shorter than a lot of other post rock albums. Baring this in mind i actually found it more difficult to get into than Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Sigur Ros or A Silver Mt Zion, simply because some of the cliches mentioned earlier are not present on this album.

Overall this is a really beautiful piece of continuos instrumental work that is brilliant just to relax to and feel blown away. "The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place" is a title full of hope and it is reflected in positive aura of the music. Check this out for some wonderful modern prog.