RED FOREST

I'm completely surprised that I had never heard of this post-rock band. Why? Well, for starters, they hail from Akron, OH, which just so happens to be my hometown/current location. I'm unsure of why I've not heard of them, and it's even stranger when you consider just how good these guys are at what they do.

This is post-rock. The formula is basically the same: lots of ambiance, soaring atmospheres, a lack of real structure; but, rather, more of a constant progression or movement to the music. Overall, a type of music that focuses on textures and feelings, rather than on power and structure. There are few post-rock bands that really gain my interest more than If These Trees Could Talk. Their sophomore album, "Red Forest", showcases the one aspect of their music that is different than other post-rock bands: the technical prowess of which this band is capable.

I was floored, really. The incredibly delicate, yet technical drums; the soaring, blistering lead guitar; the dynamic bass; and the mood-inducing rhythms all come together to form an album that catches your interest and doesn't let go. "Barren Lands of the Modern Dinosaur", for example, blows us away with amazing texture, but also with difficult soloing that somehow works its way into the post-rock style without compromising it. Again and again, this album wowed me. These guys have confidence in a sub-genre that usually lacks it.

It's more than that, though. "Red Forest" is capable of messing with your emotions, elating and deflating you at its whim. Depression one minute, hope the next. This type of masterful control is something I look for in the texture-driven style of post-rock, and many bands simply lack the finesse and expertise of If These Trees Could Talk. This must be heard by all post-rock fans.