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Ordered this one, waiting for it to get here before I chime in. I only just recently heard Harmlessness, but Brad's description has me super excited for it.
Finally got to sit down and play the full thing. Really excellent. The last 2 tracks are above and beyond. Truly enormous sounding. I hear a bit of Foxing, Brave Little Abacus, Glassbeach and The Anniversary throughout this.
― gman59, Wednesday, 13 October 2021 17:20 (two years ago) link
I think this is their best album in almost every way (even Harmlessness which has my fave songs). More ambitious in sound and scale, but, more importantly, greater consistency in quality and sequencing. The production is full and detailed - the drums and vocals, are so much better sounding than previous releases. Really enjoying this on headphones.
It might feel like their masterpiece (if not, a masterpiece), but, like Brad, I actually think this points a new way forward for bands in this vein. Technical and grandiose but accessible. Excited to see what comes next.
Honestly, I hope the emo, prog, post-rock and metal references don't turn off the larger contingent of indie rock listeners, because I really believe this will appeal to fans of more commercial guitar driven stuff like Built to Spill, ATDI or Manchester Orchestra. I mean you don't need to love Circa Survive, Pure Reason Revolution, mewithoutYou, GYBE! or the aforementioned bands to get into this (though if you do...).
I also don't think you need to have heard the other albums to enjoy this (in fact, new listeners should def start with Illusory Walls), but the callbacks and interpolations are not just real treats for long time fans, but add emotional depth.
― bressonian, Wednesday, 13 October 2021 17:54 (two years ago) link
wow this is really really prog, quite a few levels beyond typical emo levels
― ufo, Thursday, 14 October 2021 00:56 (two years ago) link
this reminds me of Tao Of The Dead insofar as the proggiest bits are the earlier segues rather than the jumbo-length stuff at the end, impressive racket mind
― imago, Thursday, 14 October 2021 13:10 (two years ago) link
Man I can't wait to hear this. Copy is supposed to arrive today. Holding out until I get it, but these descriptions are making my mouth water. The Anniversary! ATDI! Built to Spill! "really really prog"! Tao of the Dead!
I've yet to hear all of Always Foreign, but given the general fan reactions I've seen and read, I'm surprised that's the one with the highest Pitchfork score of the last three albums proper.
I'm enjoying the two longer tracks on this - finding them warmly soporific. I caught a whiff of The God Machine on an earlier track, which kept me interested.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Friday, 15 October 2021 19:05 (two years ago) link