All instrumental music is a tough gig. To connect with people without the aid of the obvious emotive content and singalong nature of vocals and lyrics to spell things out for the listener is hard. The artists that ply this trade have to be ridiculously good at what they do to gain any kind of traction amongst the record buying and gig-going public. And that’s exactly what we have here.
This Sydney four-piece astounded all who heard it with their previous album, …and so we destroyed everything back in 2011. Now, with Love of Cartography, they step things up a notch again. Lovers of the previous record (of which I am staunchly one) may find it difficult to believe, but this new album is its superior, in just about every facet. It is bigger, more sweeping, more epic, more interesting, and takes the captivated listener to even bolder soundscapes than ever before.
Whilst the previous album had the occasional flat spot across its epic length, there are no such spots here. Every track is compelling and gripping; every piece takes you away to a different place of musical wonder, with second track Great Northern possibly the pick of an almost perfect ten, though some very stiff competition comes from How We Built the Ocean.
These guys are simply one of the absolute elite all-instrumental rock acts on the planet today. They deliver vocal-free rock music that is interesting and complex, ambient and simple, and catchy as all hell, all at once. Love of Cartography is an instant classic, let it find the map to your heart.
BY ROD WHITFIELD
Best Track: Great Northern
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: TANGLED THOUGHTS OF LEAVING, 65DAYSOFSTATIC, DUMBSAINT
In A Word: Artistry
