The Austin, Texas band The Calm Blue Sea is enjoying somewhat of a second life. Originally self-released in 2008, their self titled debut album has now been re-released with two bonus tracks recorded during the original album sessions, and they are getting considerably more attention on this go round. NPR featured the album on their First Listen series and Esquire has fawned over them, amongst others and with good reason.
The Calm Blue Sea will certainly draw comparisons to the most well known post-rock bands, from Mogwai to Explosions In The Sky. This music is dramatic, with most songs six minutes or more long, giving them room to breathe and explore multiple movements within each track. There are pounding, pulsing, intense passages and quiet, contemplative moments of sheer beauty.
Although I strongly recommend the album in its entirety, there is not a bad song here, my favorites include the majestic opener "We Happy Few", which makes good use of the piano amongst the powerful guitars, "This Will Never Happen Again", which steadily builds with a repeated guitar line playing over an eerie sea of atmospheric keyboards before furiously boiling over with an assault of drums and guitar, and the nearly ten minute "The Rivers That Run Beneath This City", which starts as a quiet, melodic guitar piece before drums and keyboards slowly are added along with soaring, crying guitar work for a bombastic second half.
Also not to be missed is "After The Legions", the slowest track on the album with shimmering piano throughout, it is absolutely mesmerizing. I love the prominent use of piano on many of these tracks, it takes The Calm Blue Sea's music to even more sublime places. The Austin quartet definitely needs to be a part of the conversation when it comes to the great instrumental rock music being made today. This album is gorgeous.
"The Calm Blue Sea" reissue was released in the U.S. August 2, 2011 on Modern Outsider Records.
Official Website of The Calm Blue Sea
Purchase "The Calm Blue Sea" from the band's Official Online Store
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