Pick of the month for October 2006.

Aereogramme
My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go

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Label: Octave Records
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Although the US and UK won’t see this album until 2007 on Chemikal Underground Records, My Heart Has a Wish That You Would Not Go slips into the “release of the month slot” with a Japanese release date of October 14th on Octave Records. Aereogramme also finds itself in the fishtank with ISIS these days, but ironically their forth album is the lightest and least progressive in their catalogue, instead focusing on layering and scrutinizing every last detail en route to creating a modern masterpiece. We’ve always known the band to be an artistic group (well, more artistic than the typical UK indie rock band), but My Heart… really puts this group over the top, showing them to be completely confident in their evolution as a band and drawing comparison all across the board from El Cielo-era dredg, the Dancing Echoes/Dead Sounds meanderings of Codeseven, the less volatile Oceansize songs, and maybe even hints of The Grand Silent System from the other side of the globe. This is, by far, the band’s most ambitious project to date, and whereas many bands have been sent to the slaughterhouse for such attempts, the risky moves in My Heart… are exactly what makes it an instant classic.

Over Aereogramme‘s first three discs, the quartet was able to lay down some killer tunes and execute most of it to near-perfection, but they really had trouble separating themselves in a cluttered genre (Don’t we have enough “progressive” bands in the world? And aren’t there enough “alternative” bands in the UK?). Aereogramme regroups, redefines itself, and resurfaces with ten tracks that demonstrate not only an incredibly depth in the band’s song-writing, but also a magnificent creative spark that now separates them from the pack. The moment when exceptional musicians become exceptional artists is immensely gratifying on a personal level and greatly entertaining for anyone who is able to experience the results of such a transition. Prepare for an adventure.

Previously Aereogramme came across as a “Tool meets pretentious indie rock” band, but the rough edges are smoothed out on the new record and what we’re left with is spacious layers of tantalizing music, with electronic components fused to an organic backbone of strings and acoustic guitars. The transitions across the album are remarkable; the instrumentation alone is quite daring, but on top of that Craig B‘s vocals mix into the fold perfectly. Soaring strings complement the riveting guitar performance, and it seems like every denouement gives way to an open landscape where we’ll find a lone piano or acoustic guitar carrying the tune as if the song just hadn’t taken a nose dive straight down to earth. The balance between the surreal, ethereal world and the rich organicism of the album is the main tool Aereogramme uses to draw the power of the music out onto the page and this gives the band a much needed force that prevents from becoming stuck in the clouds.

In 2006 (or 2007 for that matter), it is near impossible for a band to create something that can withstand a critical eye and also also challenge the band itself and push their music to new heights. Time and again we witness musicians sucumbing to laziness and just rehashing old ideas (such as The Mars Volta, Tool, and ISIS, just to name a few), so it’s particularly interesting to watch an artist accomplish this task seven years into its history. In this regard we may herald Aereogramme as the Failure or Far of the 2000s. Too often bands will have a stellar debut release and quickly fall off the radar as they struggle to recreate the magic on that initial release; the true test of a band’s spirit is their ability to improve over time and find themselves burning brighter with each release.

My Heart… starts with the fireworks. “A Conscious Life for Coma Boy” appropriately begins the album with a energetic lead guitar and transcendent vocals, which will repeat throughout the song. This fades away into a very simple guitar setup and for a brief moment the vocals are at the forefront. A violin is mixed into the background, builds up momentum, and then back to that ascending chorus. Repeat, throw in a distortion highlighted outro, cue those transcendent vocals once more, and we’ll call it a day. Not an overly complicated structure, but the simplicity is offset by the dense layering that is packed into those four minutes and thirty seconds; in laymen’s terms: you want to listen to it again. “Barriers” works on a similar level — a very catchy tune is highlighted by sophisticated arrangements and the band packs all the emotion they can into five minutes. “Exits” ensures that the cd isn’t going to get formulaic, and the band works uphill the entire album as they fight through the brooding composition. The song begins with an acoustic guitar and slowly builds up layers of strings and guitar effects, then washes the entire thing over with a huge wave of ambiance while the vocals slowly begin to dissipate into the air and reinforce the otherworldly feel of the album.

The rest of My Heart… follows suite. Each song gives you a slightly different taste of Aereogramme, but by the end of it a wide spectrum of music has been sampled. The only song on the album I can truly find fault with without becoming pedantic is “Living Backwards,” which starts off innocently enough (perhaps a bit too A Perfect Circle, but we’ll let it slide). Around the five minute mark the band has a chance to stop the momentum and cut their losses, but they march onward and in the final minutes it’s erupted into a “Ben Gibbard jerking off to Failure” lovefest. I’ve already sat through Deftones jerking off Failure this month, so adding Death Cab For Cutie‘s frontman to the mix doesn’t do much for me. Luckily Aereogramme doesn’t make a habit of this and the last four songs of the album are perhaps the strongest, while “You’re Always Welcome” caps off a wondrous performance by launching the listener back into the atmosphere.

After the album has run its course, there’s little doubting that Aereogramme has outdone themselves. This quartet has come a long way since A Story in White, and it’s safe to say that this is the album where the band has come into their own. From where they sit now the possibilities are endless for their future will take them, but for the moment they can sit back with the knowledge that they have produced one of the year’s best albums.

~Jordan Volz

Written By: host
Date Posted: 11/22/2006
Number of Views: 285