From The Sky : "Like Crystal In A World Of Glass" Ep (Sound Devastation Records)

Sound Devastation have a potentially fantastic band on their hands, in the shape of The Pirate Ship Quintet. There's a real sense of invention about that particular 7-piece collective. The same, however, cannot be applied to labelmates From The Sky.

There's nothing particularly wrong with their 5-track "Like Crystal In A World Of Glass" Ep. "There Are Ghosts In The Glass", for example, packs a real emotional punch, as the band pile on the layers of distortion. While, "Someone To Remember" is a slow-buring epic of a track, featuring lovely cascading guitar lines before it all ends with some spectacular percussion crashes.

But in all reality, Mogwai were doing this much better, way back in the mid-90's. Some of the music seems a little forced, where as Mogwai can let things flow organically. In fact, their sound mirrors that of another early post-rock band called South Pacific. There aren't any real memorable moments on this Ep and this has left me wondering if I will ever go back to it again. Granted poor production doesn't do From The Sky any favours. The empty sound probably hinders "When The Sun Sets The Cloud On Fire". I'll bet that this is show-stopper when played live, but on this ep it's impact is minimal.

Overall, it is disappointing for a band that on occasions displays talent. Had From The Sky been a schoolchild instead of a post-rock quartet, then their teacher would be reprimanding them for copying other people's work. Must do better.

Rating - 60%



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The Pirate Ship Quintet - Self-Titled Ep (Sound Devastation Records)

Not really a 5 piece band, but more of a 14 legged army of musicians, The Pirate Ship Quintet are another young British band intent on creating lavish instrumental soundscapes. This is all getting a bit tedious, isn't it?. Not if TPSQ have anything to do with it. Like Yndi Halda a few years ago, these young upstarts are dragging a stagnant post-rock scene out of the mire of mediocrity using their raw materials to meld something new. They have big ideas, bucketloads of ambition and most importantly the charisma to pull it all off. Witness the jaw-dropping "Pirate Ship", the final track of this ep. A dynamic mix of brass, string arrangements and distortion. It is dramatic and euphoric music, that summons the spirit of the much missed Godspeed collective.

"I Kina Spiser De Hund", meanwhile, comes across like a classically trained Red Sparowes. Maintaining their American conuterparts metallic edge, TPSQ add sombre piano lines and layers of heart-breaking violin, to create a mini-symphony that explodes like a volcano. There's plenty on offer on this 30 minute, 3-track Ep to suggest TPSQ are here to stay. Huge expectations have been placed on this band by those left disappointed by Explosions In The Sky's return earlier this year. If this Ep is anything to go by, this young septet have the abiltity to take instrumental music into uncharted territories.

Rating - 87%

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