Friday, November 11, 2011

Wilco - "The Whole Love" album

From the glitchy electronic noise that opens the album on "Art Of Almost", it's obvious that this is Wilco moving back into their more playful experimental mode, after a couple of albums of more straightforward rock. The noise gives quickly way to become a rather gentle folk-pop song before exploding into a swell of post-Krautrock improv jamming. "Dawned On Me" is a scrappy (yet mature) slice of Summertime pop, complete with Jeff Tweedy whistling, whereas "Black Moon" goes more introspective and low-key, proving that Tweedy and company are at the top of their class. The remainder of the album beautifully and skillfully teeters between well-written and upbeat pop songs and almost somber melancholia. The 12-minute "One Sunday Morning" combines a disjointed guitar/piano melody with minimalist drones and reflective words from Tweedy to spectacular effect. It's a perfect bookend to this magnificent album. (dBpm Records)

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The Winchester Club - "Negative Liberty" CD

The second album from a London-based instrumental post-rock act, Winchester Club's driving, swirling rock will be most appreciated by fans of stuff like Explosions In The Sky or the shoegazer set. You know the formula already: tension-building guitars and pummeling drums, double bass players, dramatic dynamism, and moments of lonely quiet interspersed within tumultuous cascades of guitar. There's only 5 tracks here, but they are, after all, lengthy pieces. Witness the 12-minutes of "The Lonely Robot", or the gradual 15-minute build-up of "R.D. Laing (Little Chemical Straightjackets)". They haven't really found their own unique voice yet, but, nonetheless, this is fine work. (Exile On Mainstream)

Winchester Club site