ARTIST: Parhelia
TITLE: Shifting Sands
LABEL: Self Released
GENRE: Instrumental Rock
BITRATE: 222kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 35m total
RELEASE DATE: 2009-02-12
RIP DATE: 2010-01-14
Track List
----------
1. Our Ship Has Sailed 5:43
2. Perpetual Motion 3:51
3. Shifting Sands 5:16
4. Pacific 7:55
5. Inertia 5:05
6. Time & Tide 7:42
Release Notes:
http://www.myspace.com/parhelia
Though one might assume the "post metal" vibe ala Pelican, Isis, Rosetta, Red
Sparowes and Mouth of the Architect is an American phenomenon, suffice it to say
the theorem has caught on worldwide. Germany's Long Distance Calling have begun
a triumphant career through two albums now and while there are more instrumental
artscape bands waiting to be unearthed around the globe, take note of a special
foursome out of Dublin, Ireland who are prepared to stake their claim with an
elegant alt-prog-post metal swoon.
Parehlia is perhaps the most sensuous group yet to arrive in this esteemed
subdivision of underground rock and metal. Part Pelican, part The Cure, part an
understated Kitchens of Distinction and part War and October era U2, Parhelia's
debut full-length Shifting Sands may ride a particular rhythmic wave in their
exploratory chasms of sound reverb, but it's their confidence which really
shines. When you get offers to open for a variety of acts such as Slunt, Dead
Soul Tribe and Guns 'n Roses, you know you're appealing to more than a tailored
demographic.
While Shifting Sands never grows too loud and bombastic, merely climactic in
building atop their waving bars as on "Inertia," the careful tailoring Parhelia
molds with is nearly as compelling as Isis' past two albums, only in a far more
understated way. Shifting Sands is decidedly downtempo straight through,
reaching close to maudlin on the album's closer "Time & Tide" before opting to
rise for a high stride, distorted cadence and ultimately a booming sequence of
power chords the more it threads along. Sounding like a Cure track taking one
step forward into a more metallic room space to work with, "Time & Tide" rises
in spirit yet never with distemperment.
Sounding closely to Pelican on the quixotic opening number "Our Ship Has
Sailed," Parhelia demonstrates immediately their ability to captivate with
isolated note channels and a dreaminess not quite affiliated with the shoegazer
acts of the late eighties to mid-nineties such as Lush or Cocteau Twins, though
assumedly these bands helped pave Parhelia's tone. Nevertheless, guitarists Greg
and Phil Clarke continuously trade upper and lower melody fills while the other
scatters pleasantly drowsy note plucks.
At their most intense, Parhelia could pique the interest of The Edge with their
wailing strum weaves, despite an overall propensity to keep a lofty sway to
their pinpointed lines. They impressively build atop an opening sequence of
psychedelic keys on "Perpetual Motion" with a slight modification of percussion
grooves from Andy Clarke while bassist Cathal Rodgers grounds things before the
tune rockets excitably in the final stanza.
The title track shifts the scheme by getting right into the meat of the
composition then scaling back incrementally before letting an ensuing amplitude
carry it the remainder of the way. Here is where Parhelia sound most like
Pelican and early U2 in an agreeable marriage of distortion-propelled bliss.
Enough to lift you straight into a storm cloud and then drift you into the open
ether and pounding piano strikes of the following track "Pacific."
Contemporary yet partially throwback, Parhelia have obviously been working hard
at their craft. If you want the heavy concussion of Neurosis, this isn't going
to do it for you. However, if you're interested in hearing a meticulously
structured set of instrumentals which only signal future greatness, then take
the plunge off of the Inishowen coastline and drown yourself in Parhelia's salty
ambience.