DREAMS THAT COME A THING (PT I) - ...NEVER THOUGHT IT MAY SEEM...

4.5 stars doubtlessly rounded to 5

I don't know where did we start this journey with BWY and how, but we've finally coincided here. I believe, this is the best effort from BWY to date, and the best place to start with. Stepping away from Prog-Rock and Post-Rock, I was lured to realms of Ambient/Drone/Minimalistic music recently, and oddly enough, this release has more such features than proggy/posty ones. 14 minutes of 'Hoarfrost' (with acoustic intro), low frightening drone with some oriental bass background, this is what I like the most here now. This is odd, really odd, since I've never been a Minimalism fan before (check my Prog-Metal reviews, ha-ha!), and I thought that 'Dreams that come a Thing' epic in 3 parts (35 min long in a sum!) would appeal more to me...though it's splendid in its own way, with rare and unpredictable climaxes and long ambient sections, cold and warm, dark and shiny, any kind you'd like to hear. I don't know what to expect from the second part of the trilogy, really, since it's LP-only release, but judging from BWY's progression, it could easily be their best album - even better than this magnificent one. Extremely recommended, especially if you're tired of modern Post-Rock copycats or angry hardcore kids trying to make something of Post-Metal kind. BWY is a universe in itself, and it would be a great shame to miss it. Amazing.

Ambient Post-Rock is certainly hit and miss for me. While this seems to be the one album from this Russian band that everyone prefers, I like "Wired Promise To Be" much more. That album actually has a bass player, plus there's flute and I really like the samples they add. This earlier release is more stripped down with guitars being the main instrument creating atmosphere and melodies. Not sure if the title to this one was done on purpose or just interpreted wrong but it's awkward for sure. So we get just under an hour of music with two main suites with the title tracks broken down to make up the biggest part of this recording.

The exception is the opener called "...###..." where we get some beautiful and slow guitar melodies along with some atmosphere. The guitar stops around 3 minutes as the atmosphere continues. Picked guitar joins in to the end. Next up are the title tracks separated by the titles "Episodes". "Episode #1" opens with atmosphere before these guitar expressions join in after 3 minutes. The atmosphere does settle back though. It starts to pick up with a beat a minute later. It settles back again at 6 1/2 minutes before picking up again with a beat before 10 minutes. Strummed guitar joins in as well. It starts to wind down late blending into the next part.

"Episode #2" continues with the atmosphere and there's lots of it. Some picked guitar will join in. The atmosphere fades away around 8 minutes as the guitars are slowly played. Some sparse piano late as it blends into "Episode #3". The piano is replaced by a beat rather quickly and the guitar joins in as it builds. I like the guitar starting before 6 minutes as it echoes out of the atmosphere. Picked guitar takes over before 9 minutes.

I find the two part section called "Hoarfrost" disappointing. "Episode #1" is a short 2 minute piece of mainly picked guitar that I'm not into at all. It blends into "Episode #2" where the guitar will stop but the atmosphere in the form of guitar will hum. This builds before a minute and the humming is distorted and it will continue until after 8 1/2 minutes when it fades out. Some percussion sounds then strummed guitar after 9 minutes. A high pitched sound arrives late. Just not a fan of these two songs.

This didn't grow on me at all and the enjoyment factor was pretty low much to my surprise as I was expecting better. Just my opinion.