Explosions In The Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (2003)

Post-Rock certainly has its champions; you need not look much further than the likes of Mogwai, Sigur Ros, Godspeed You Black Emperor! and Do Make Say Think to get a feel for the power of this genre. Up until now the output has been erratic, at times breathtaking but prone to nasal plucking boringness. What Post-Rock needed was a band to continually search the horizons for new turns and balance this with a consistency of greatness. The answer came from the unlikeliest of sources, Midland in outer Texas to be precise. Mark Smith (guitar), Chris Hrasky (drums), Munaf Rayani (guitar) and Michael James (bass) may come across as ordinary likeable lads in interviews but what sets them apart is the dramatic soundscapes they are capable of dreaming up with the basic tools of their trade. With guitar in hand the glittering blackness quickly turns to snow and lights, like succumbing to an acid rush by way of a tune.

This is Explosions third album (debut ‘How Strange, Innocence’ had a circulation of only 300, the follow up ‘Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever’ released in 2001 has all of hypnotism of the current album) and is certainly up there with the best instrumental albums of all time. The fluidity of the ideas and the simple chord progressions will have you swooning and wondering why vocals were ever invented. Apart from the music the song titles have a deep melancholy. ‘First Breath After Coma’ which opens the album develops from a shimmering chord swirl to a more rounded riff that is backed by a focused flurry of drumbeats. As the rockets spiral towards the atmosphere all hell breaks lose until the furnace is quelled to reveal another exciting chapter. Reindeer bells suddenly dictate the pace, guitar shrapnel flies about, huge beats slice the peace and the disparate parts fit together like a jigsaw of the Mona Lisa. After a while the whole thing gets quite emotional.

After the heartbreak, ‘The Only Moment We Were Alone’ has a clearer agenda. The jangling is more focused as if heading somewhere in particular but that’s not to say that it doesn’t affect. This is the sound of an instrument masquerading as a puppy; the only difference being that it never grows old. The shimmering apocalypse purposely builds to air raid proportions and then downsizes to a more manageable sound fest. The marching stomp that accompanies the journey makes the whole thing all the more enjoyable so much so that the 8 minutes of this song may be among the most beautiful you will ever spend. Explosions In The Sky have admitted that they imagine the scene before they write the music. ‘Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean’ is based on the Russian submarine that floundered a couple of years back killing all the sailors within. The despair in the otherwise crystal clear playing is evident, the creatures outside so full of life yet of another world shunt by as the chords are chimed in unison. Things take a lighter turn with ‘Memorial’, the juddering strumming recalls Sonic Youth unwinding as they create another classic tale of guitar subtlety. Appropriately enough several maelstroms hide around every corner. Surprisingly the whole thing can seem a little oblique at first but there’s a beating heart ready to hug you if you persist.

The album ends with the undoubted highlight ‘Your Hand In Mine’ which pulls all the extreme emotions together. All the essential ingredients are present. The slow patient build up, the structured drumbeat and sucrose guitars disguised as messengers from heaven. The core of pummelling circular guitars evokes a genius of noise that will tweak your heart until it discards all those failed romances. As the cavalry of Fender Stratocasters ride into the sunset you can’t help but throw imaginary flowers in their general direction. The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place may take a while to sink in but the task is made all the easier when the rewards are this great. The album has the guitar as its centrepiece and the power that is evoked is unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere. There are only 5 pieces of music but despite this fact each part has enough twists and turns to leave your hair in a guzzled mess. Once Explosions In The Sky take a hold of your heart you’ll discover you’ve grown an alternative atria.

Rating: 9/10

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