This quartet, hailing from Portland, Oregon, have staked a reputation on the calibre of their multimedia live shows, featuring not only he band's mix of electronica and breezy instrumental composition, but their16mm film projections too. Fittingly, some of this filmwork has been included on this disc, namely the accompanying video to opening track 'Somnambulist', a piece of electronic post-rock not too far away from the quiet, kooky epics concocted by Mùm or The Album Leaf. The film itself is a flickery romp through footage of the natural world, specifically the swaying of foliage in a light wind. If that doesn't sound particularly engaging, well it's not. You do however, get the impression it would assist a live performance in no small way, aiding the accumulation of some sort of atmosphere. Back to the music and there's far more excitement to be had, with the band's tight, often mathsy approach to writing referencing the likes of Tortoise, Stereolab and perhaps a touch of Lali Puna, especially on the jazzy glockenspiel and beat sculpting of 'Backside Of A Magnet'. There's a constant vocal presence on Similar Anniversaries, but not in any conventional sense. Instead, the vocals tend not to be concerned with actual words but function rather as another instrument, further humanising the mix. there are some moments of outright harmonic beauty on the album, such as the lovely 'House Or Home' and the shuffling 'Farewell Weird Owl'.
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This quartet, hailing from Portland, Oregon, have staked a reputation on the calibre of their multimedia live shows, featuring not only he band's mix of electronica and breezy instrumental composition, but their16mm film projections too. Fittingly, some of this filmwork has been included on this disc, namely the accompanying video to opening track 'Somnambulist', a piece of electronic post-rock not too far away from the quiet, kooky epics concocted by Mùm or The Album Leaf. The film itself is a flickery romp through footage of the natural world, specifically the swaying of foliage in a light wind. If that doesn't sound particularly engaging, well it's not. You do however, get the impression it would assist a live performance in no small way, aiding the accumulation of some sort of atmosphere. Back to the music and there's far more excitement to be had, with the band's tight, often mathsy approach to writing referencing the likes of Tortoise, Stereolab and perhaps a touch of Lali Puna, especially on the jazzy glockenspiel and beat sculpting of 'Backside Of A Magnet'. There's a constant vocal presence on Similar Anniversaries, but not in any conventional sense. Instead, the vocals tend not to be concerned with actual words but function rather as another instrument, further humanising the mix. there are some moments of outright harmonic beauty on the album, such as the lovely 'House Or Home' and the shuffling 'Farewell Weird Owl'.
This quartet, hailing from Portland, Oregon, have staked a reputation on the calibre of their multimedia live shows, featuring not only he band's mix of electronica and breezy instrumental composition, but their16mm film projections too. Fittingly, some of this filmwork has been included on this disc, namely the accompanying video to opening track 'Somnambulist', a piece of electronic post-rock not too far away from the quiet, kooky epics concocted by Mùm or The Album Leaf. The film itself is a flickery romp through footage of the natural world, specifically the swaying of foliage in a light wind. If that doesn't sound particularly engaging, well it's not. You do however, get the impression it would assist a live performance in no small way, aiding the accumulation of some sort of atmosphere. Back to the music and there's far more excitement to be had, with the band's tight, often mathsy approach to writing referencing the likes of Tortoise, Stereolab and perhaps a touch of Lali Puna, especially on the jazzy glockenspiel and beat sculpting of 'Backside Of A Magnet'. There's a constant vocal presence on Similar Anniversaries, but not in any conventional sense. Instead, the vocals tend not to be concerned with actual words but function rather as another instrument, further humanising the mix. there are some moments of outright harmonic beauty on the album, such as the lovely 'House Or Home' and the shuffling 'Farewell Weird Owl'.