ARTIST: Pictureville
TITLE: Threads
LABEL: I Wish I Was Unpopular Records
GENRE: Instrumental Rock
BITRATE: 162kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 20m total
RELEASE DATE: 2007-00-00
RIP DATE: 2007-06-04
Track List
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1. Once Around 4:32
2. Threads 5:44
3. Faint Falls 4:48
4. Autumn Song 5:22
Release Notes:
While listeners have come to appreciate and adore the aggressive drums and
reverb filled guitar riffs which have become standard in the post-rock world,
many of the more intrinsic artists have become unspoken heroes among the barrage
of clustering noises. Primarily, those with a penchant for acoustic guitars and
violins that aren't used for loud purposes are often neglected for their more
energetic peers; outside of a few relatively high-profile artists, music of this
ilk is wholly unappreciated. Every once and a while itÆs nice to be able to put
on some music which enables us to just sit back and collect ourselves, allowing
the acoustic and classical influences to seep deep into the pores. High-octane
instrumental bands are unable to effectively convey this emotion, but a whole
different world awaits us underneath the surface.
Pictureville, the brainchild of Daniel Halliday of Motodestra, is a project that
accomplishes this unwinding feeling remarkably well. While Daniel Halliday
normally entertains himself with electric guitars and computer beats, but he
goes in the completely opposite direction with Pictureville. The sound
constructed during Threads is driven by a soothing acoustic guitar and a
delicate violin. The frailty of the two instruments is at the heart of the EP,
creating emotional, touching works.
Threads opens with ôOnce Around,ö a track with an acoustic guitar riff that sets
a fast pace for the album, but is meant to get the listener in an easy-going
mood by slowly unwinding him into a gentle state. As "Once Around" continues
onward, the violin kicks in and alleviates the listener's worries of everyday
life by dissolving in the sea of tranquility which is systematically forged by
Daniel Halliday. The second track ôThreadsö is the most upbeat and positive song
on the EP, and is dominated by a fast and joyful acoustic guitar loop which
continues throughout the entire song and is supported by creeping notes from
both the violin and bass. ôFaint Fallsö is the standout track on the effort,
which is a slow paced song thatÆs rather difficult to convey in words. This
beauty moves along at a leisurely pace, but contains many overlapping
instruments which transport the listener to a warm summer day near a small and
peaceful stream - a feeling which continues throughout the rest of the EP.
While it's not uncommon to see a band base a track off the interplay between
acoustic guitar and violin (The Album Leaf comes to mind), sadly there are very
few bands which utilize this approach in a majority of their music. The acoustic
guitar has something magical about it; itÆs able to create a very different and
distinct tone, and the organic nature makes it very approachable and natural to
our ears. Listeners looking for a new instrumental flavor should check out
Pictureville - it's almost picture perfect!