- Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- -
Artist: Jakob
Album: Sines
Label: Mylene Sheath
Playtime: 44:40 min
Genre: Instrumental Rock
URL:
Rip date: 2014-11-05
Street date: 2014-10-17
Size: 83.28 MB
Type: Normal
Quality: 246 kbps / 4410Hz / Joint Stereo
- Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- -
"Jakob have always been a very balanced band. Never one to rush, they would
take their time developing their songs, ensuring they were fleshed out and
fully realized before coming to a climax or ending. On paper, this makes a
perfect post-rock band, but it didnÆt translate so effectively to record.
While production value and composition have always been stellar, playing it
safe ultimately results in a black-and-white predictable album, which was the
solitary flaw that plagued both Solace and Cale Drew. æOran MorÆ exemplifies
this, with its headlong dive into a climax of crash cymbals and feedback,
standing out exactly because it blindsides the listener and is totally
uncharacteristic of the band. Predictability yields stagnation, and while the
band were far from stagnant with 3 great albums under their belt, it was hard
to ignore the possibility. ôWasö is the key word however, and Jakob have
succeeded in staving off complacency by widening their musical horizons and
diversifying their formula in fourth outing, Sines.
The choice of lead single is unsurprising, using the piece most reminiscent of
older works, æBlind Them With ScienceÆ. Like an artist painting a new work
with a familiar style, this track deliberately and methodically goes through
the motions, with the thick delay-driven guitar layers and varied drum work
adding layers to the canvas and pushing the song forward. While certainly one
of their standout æheavyÆ tracks, it exists more as an ode to the past, a
dedication to die-hard fans who have waited patiently for 8 long years since
Solace. This makes it clear from the get-go that their niche hasn't changed,
but moving on from the opener we are greeted by æEmergentÆ, which may be the
prettiest track the band have ever written. Quite unlike anything found on
previous releases, this piece is wholly devoid of drums, featuring a simple
repeating melody as the centrepoint of the piece while a string section weaves
its way around the guitar. These newfound strings are a prominent facet of the
album, adding new shades to the palette and introducing some much needed
variation to the compositions. This shift sets the pattern for the remainder
of the album, and indicates to the listener that they shouldnÆt expect a
rehash of their back catalogue.
There are several standout moments throughout Sines that serve to
differentiate this album from the rest. æHarmoniaÆ has a dichotomy seldom
found elsewhere in the genre, contrasting aggression with pleasant orchestral
arrangements. æDarknessÆ meanders aimlessly with tempered drums, coming as a
surprise after 30+ minutes of mostly driving percussion, and the title
track/closer æSinesÆ similarly evades expectations by opting for softer brush
strokes to round out the album. This is a stark contrast to the aggressive
opener, and the stylistic disparity is a double edged sword. The diversity is
a huge step forward, but it adds slight inconsistencies to the albums flow
that become especially prominent after several playthroughs. Once the surprise
of the mellow closing section wears off, it becomes something of an immersion
breaker. Once the beauty of the string section in æHarmoniaÆ wears off, it
becomes jarring; while æEmergentÆ blends the colours together admirably, the
solitary strings of the former track stick out like a sore thumb. Credit is
due for the experimentation, especially where it is successful, but the eight
years of tribulations have taken their toll on the albums consistency, and
ultimately pulled it below their past works.
Considering the trials the band have faced since Solace and the amount of time
this album has taken to write and record, itÆs unreasonable to expect Sines to
flow perfectly, and to their credit, this album contains some of the
singularly most satisfying moments the band has to offer. The willingness to
expand on their signature sound, despite fans waiting 8 long years for the
release, is a gambit worthy of praise. The core of their sound has remained
mostly intact and older devotees will undoubtedly find plenty to love here,
but the increased focus on experimentation and pushing the envelope make this
a perfect starting point for those unsure of what to expect from Jakob. Being
off-balance isnÆt always a bad thing; the surprises give the album more impact
in early listens, while the unique atmospheric music that the band specializes
in lends the album its staying power. Sines is largely colours not previously
utilized by the band, and while sometimes the colours clash and splashes miss
the page, it makes for an engaging and absorbing work. Who knows, when they
learn to manage their widened palette, they could paint a masterpiece."
- Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- -
01. Blind Them With Science ( 6:57)
02. Emergent ( 5:08)
03. Magna Carta ( 6:15)
04. Harmonia ( 6:05)
05. Resolve ( 9:11)
06. Darkness ( 5:37)
07. Sines ( 5:27)
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