Explosions in the Sky ; "End"

 The Texas post-rock band's 8th album proves that to have had such a lasting career as an instrumental band they must be doing something right,. I listen to most music for vocals so it is normally hard to sell me on something like this. I came aboard as a fan in 2007 thanks to their album "All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone" which has enough melancholy and longing in the guitars that it won me over. That same feeling is hinted at in this album's second song "Moving On". The album opens on a much different note with lighter more electronic passage working movements closer to grooves than the cinematic majesty expected from these guys. But it still works as a song, and proves they have a desire to keep pushing the boundaries of what they do. 

There is more of a distant ambient twinkle to "Loved Ones" .  The soft to loud builds that were at the heart of their earlier work has been replaces by a more explorative pondering. It is hinted at on "Love Ones" but done in a less dramatic fashion. "Peace or Quiet' does bring it back closer to the sonic drama of their earlier work with the guitars really infused with emotion. Once again I am four songs into their album, as they have taken me off on a journey that keeps me engaged to the point that I never find the lack of vocals to be a detriment to the song. "All Mountains" finds the effects the guitars play with to create a new swathe of wonderment. The ambiance sometimes threatens to take the song floating away, though never long enough to kill the momentum of the song.

"the Fight" is a spacious piece of sonic sparkle that dances around the some what lonely mood.  There is one droning guitar part that plays against the plod of bass, to create something unique within the boundaries of what they do once the build up begins to crank itself to life. The jangle of the guitars helps to pick up the pace once the drums come in. It is certainly what fans of this band are wanting. The last song opens with a more delicate piano line. It hesitates on the pitter patter of the song's melodic  pulse midway in. It sounds like ping pong being played by robots in heaven. I  will give this album a 9.5, these guys continue to take your breath away without doing it the same way twice and secure there place the top tier of this genre.