- Elementary Revolt

4/18/2008

Parhelia - Oceans Apart (EP)

TRACKLIST

01. Lights In The Distance
02. Hindsight
03. Oceans Apart
04. Summer Fades
05. Storm Warning

INFO

Post rock/metal is a label despised by some who can't handle the "post" prefix of it. Putting sociological and/or metaphysical discussions aside for a second, I never really understood it either but it seems to me a label as fitting as any to lump together all the bands that sound like Neurosis, Isis or Pelican. For me, however, most post rock/metal is actually very progressive and Irish act Parhelia certainly is no exception.

Given the characteristic of their sound, along with the fact that there's no vocals at all, it's inevitable to draw heavy comparisons to Pelican. They really sound alike but there's something else in Parhelia's music that makes me forgive that strong resemblance, maybe a sense of going places, a certain feeling of epic their music instills. "Oceans Apart" clocks in at a mere 30:58 and at first I had a hard time believing this was self-produced and that we're talking about an unsigned band. Every instrument is perfectly clear in the mix and there's a warmness that really enhances the dreamlike texture of these songs. This is band that comes across as ultra cohesive, everyone sounding like they're on the very same page.

And speaking of the songs, there's no use in talking about each one separately. In fact, I'd argue there's no use in listening to any isolated track, as "Oceans Apart" blends all five cuts so well that the half hour is over before you know it. The band's choice of artwork - of which you can only get a glimpse from the above cover image, as it's much more intricate than just the cover - gives the clue to what's inside: a crimson sunset in some faraway idyllic place between rocks, trees and water. It's just thirty minutes, but just hit play again when it's over, it will expose something different every time around.

This is merely Parhelia's debut album, after 2006's "First Light". "Oceans Apart" is already, hands down, one of the best post rock/metal albums I've heard in a long time and if they can manage to stray a little from the obvious Pelican resemblance while maintaining this spirit in their music, they certainly have the potential to be a future reference in this genre.

Progscape

LISTEN: Lights In The Distance

4/18/2008

eraser at 5:39 p. m.