SOMALI YACHT CLUB : "the Space"

This band from the Ukraine is possessed with a harder rocking pulse than what you might call shoe-gaze, but not really post-either this atmospheric band brings to mind what Stone Roses might have sounded like if they were into metal. Dreamy in the languid pace the opener sets the stage and bedazzles with some smooth guitar tones. the second song "Pulsar" has more of a grooving motion. Though it still embraces as the soaring shimmer they hinted at when the album opens in fact more dynamics are employed with this song as well as more conventional approaches to melody.  

The third track "Obscurum" makes me think of Jesu trying to take a turn to conform to the indie rock standards of the 90s. No that did not actually happen, so this is a fair assessment of what that might have sounded like. The guitar is more sonically adventurous in terms of playing something in the zip code of a guitar solo which is not really what Jesu was about. On the song "Gold" the vocals gain a but more rock swagger bringing Pink Floyd to mind, though there is a more post hard core feel to how the song flows. Think the more relaxed moments of say Minud the Bear here. Things do not get noticeably heavier until the more determined pound to the riff of "Echo of Direction". This is balanced out by twinkling guitars. I would not say this band is dark as the are introspective. The vocals are a more somber chant. There is ever a touch of prog to the direction they allow the guitars to wander. However the wander off into the ambiance so far that the song kind of disappears direction wise into it. They do eventually lock back in. 

The fact this album ends with an over 12 minute song is not surprising , in fact I am impressed they have held it together with reasonably plotted songs up until this point. This song gets about five minutes into things before it shifts into a break down of sorts. This is the first song where I have heard hints of music that might be thought of as classic rock. It also shows the singer can reach up to hit some higher notes. While well played and more of a simmering jam, the title "Momentum" almost seems to be ironic here. The song does gain some around 8 minutes in, once again touching on more of a Pink Floyd like mood. I will give this album a 9.5, it is pretty impressive even when it gets side tracked in it's explorations.  Comes out April 22nd on Season of Mist.