NAMESAKE CAUTION

Namesake Caution, the last album by Time of Orchids, is an interesting listen. It has ten tracks, only two of which surpass the five minute mark (the seven minute "Crib Tinge to Callow" and the ten minute "We Speak in Shards").

It has been a really challenging album for me. On the first listen, I didn't like it at all, but I've stuck with it for some time, paid attention to the material and let it grow on me, and it has done so, if not as much as I would like.

The music contained within is slow and ponderous; it takes its time to develop, and it is very rarely energetic. As such, this album is best to listen to in the dark or when you are feeling mellow. It is generally guitar driven, with odd and somewhat dissonant chords being used. The rhythms are odd and at times it even sounds a little math-y, although the band never gives fully over to that style. Vocal harmonies are used and may be one of the more colourful aspects of this bands music, which often sounds very grey.

As I said, it takes mulitple listens for this music to really work, for the subtle melodies and the interplay between the instruments to sink in. And once they do, it is a pleasant listen, if not an entirely varied one (I tend to stop hearing it shortly after the halfway mark). It never really comes across as genius or amazing, and even though it has been growing on me for several listens, it's finally reached the point where that seems to be plateauing, so enjoyable and pleasant is as far as this album has got with me.

The best track on the album, to my ears, is "Parades of Seasons", with a great rhtymic start/stop section in the middle. It's also the only one that has been particularly memorable to me thus far.

TIME OF ORCHIDS were an American band led by keyboardist Chuck Stern. They played complex and challenging music in the KAYO DOT tradition, in fact when they disbanded after this album their drummer Dave Bodie joined KAYO DOT and is still their drummer I believe. The vocals here are easy to listen to in contrast to the music.

"In Color Captivating" is a short intro track and I'm really impressed by the dark atmosphere and bass. It blends into "Windswept Spectacle" where we get spacey synths and picked guitar before the outbursts start to come and go followed by vocals. The vocals soar over the heaviness. "Darling Abandon" opens with vocals right away as sounds come and go. Some Post-Rock styled guitar and a more powerful sound after 2 1/2 minutes as the vocals step aside.

"Parade Of Seasons" is so complex! Vocals before a minute and I like the drum work here. Some excellent bass too. Craziness 2 1/2 minutes in. Man what a challenging song. "The Only Thing" is a top three song for me. Mainly because we get lots of laid back sections making it easier to digest. "Gem" has more of those disjointed melodies with vocals over top. Dissonant is the word 2 1/2 minutes in as the melody disappears into oblivion. A tough listen.

"Crib Tinge To Callow" is almost catchy before a minute(yeah right!) then it settles back as sounds come and go while the vocals stay constant. Spacey synths over top. It's intense and difficult 4 minutes in. I do like the bass late. "Meant(Hush-Hush)" has an interesting start then loud outbursts follow then strummed guitar as the vocals join in. It turns powerful and intense 4 minutes in with vocals.

"We Speak In Shards" is my favourite and it's the longest at 10 minutes. Guitar, bass and cymbals come and go to begin with before vocals and drums join in. I like the sound before 3 minutes then there's some clapping a minute later. What!? Drums, atmosphere and picked guitar only 8 1/2 minutes in but the vocals return quickly. "Entertainment Woes" is my final top three song. Complex as usual with vocals. I do like the calm before 2 minutes as we get atmosphere with intricate guitar melodies. This is so good and a pleasant change as it stays this way all the way to the end. Nice.

I wish I knew more about music theory as this one goes right over my head. It's just not enjoyable for me even though I am impressed. KAYO DOT fans should check this out.