ILLÀCHIME QUARTET

Illáchime Quartet's Self-titled 2004 release isn't without it's draws, in fact for the most part I think it's relatively okay, but there is the unavoidable feeling that the album lacks detail in such a way that it often limply fades into the background.

There are certain charms to the whole thing that will inevitably please me as they do in any other album: basslines that drive the music forward; dissonance; contradicting musical ideas played simultaneously. It's because of this that the first track, Monopolio Della Noia, is clearly the standout of the album, containing within it not only these charms, but some wonderful ideas that are carried out to their limit. The beginning sounding like a typical late-90's post-rock track with these non-distinct industrial noises that act to set the backbone of the piece. Eventually we are led into the track by guitar, bass, and keys playing a delicate melody that seems to twist itself into a helix. It is in the mediation between the brighter aspects of this track and the much darker, narrower sounds where I think the thing truly shines. Eventually it caves into a slightly weak prog-rock excursion before coming to some bowed strings. Despite the tracks memorability, I have to say I wish it didn't end so...stagnated. It's as though they forgot the driving force of the song and decided to throw in an average ambient string piece to get it over with.

The three other tracks within the album have their moments but it would seem that, as it progresses, so too does the impression it leaves on me shallows. The second track, Cortile In Mockba, has some texturally interesting electronic beats reminiscent of Ulver, but ultimately it drifts into a kind of average ambient piece that ebbs and flows, coming up for air in time to, again, do a sort Perdition City off-shoot, which in fairness to it isn't bad, it's perfectly okay, but it isn't brilliant either. The final track, Silos, is okay enough, but it does feel as though by this point they've left their opening statement as it were, the balance between conflicting brightness and darkness, far behind them in favour of a more linear instrumental album.

Overall I think that, while a little inconsistent and losing it's momentum as it progresses, the album is ultimately okay. If anything, Monopolio Della Noia is worth a listen.