ARTIST: Not to Reason Why
TITLE: Would You Hug Fire
LABEL: 1912 Records
GENRE: Instrumental Rock
BITRATE: 202kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 55m total
RELEASE DATE: 2010-00-00
RIP DATE: 2010-01-14
Track List
----------
1. Forever 4:09
2. Bodes 8:03
3. Monsieur 6:13
4. Zeitgeist 6:37
5. Aurora 7:39
6. Give 6:06
7. Her 4:48
8. Ancients 11:47
Release Notes:
http://www.myspace.com/nottoreasonwhyband
"Would You Hug Fire" is the second studio album release from the North Bay
quartet Not to Reason Why. An incredibly ambitious endeavor from a group with a
rather pretentious sounding name that has the audacity to play in a genre titled
post-rock. While it is true that most bands operating in this genre really do
believe they have moved beyond the bounds of this aged and inferior genre, this
album, however, seems to seek the original embrace of that music that drives our
parents crazy. Granted there are moments, for instance on their epic "Aurora",
where the group indulges in that deliciously lush instrumental texturing that
draws the inevitable comparison to bands like Explosions in the Sky. The
majority of the music, however, makes you consider that itÆs just kick ass rock
and roll.
Fans of drumming are likely to be wowed by the splashy and in your face stylings
of Mr. Paul Haile. In his capable hands, the drums become a lead instrument,
begging for attention. Lauren Haile is really doing most of the heavy rythmic
lifting on piano, creating a heartbeat for the other instruments to follow.
Through the almost one hour long experience, you can feel the band really
pushing and stretching their boundaries. From guitarist Ian Simpson mixing in
Top Gun styled riffs on "Bodes", to the band collectively creating soundtrack
ready jams like "Zeitgeist" and "Her", the expanse and scope of the project is
at once fearsome and beautiful.
As if to remind you that it is not safe to take home to mom, the album finishes
with a menacing note. Grimy and unyielding, "Ancients" ends the record with the
menacing presence of baritone guitar and a brutally angry bass tone, created by
Navid Manoochehri. This track is a little like taking on the school bully at
lunch, getting your teeth kicked in and, with the song ending in a most angelic
albeit slightly creepy fashion, ultimately realizing that through it all youÆve
somehow managed to gain respect from your peers. Through it all "Would you Hug
Fire?" shows just how much rock post-rock can possibly handle.
-Craig Tierney
"At [The Silent Ballet], we review a lot of demos, debuts, and self-released
discs. Everybody gets a shot. Our reactions to smaller productions tend to fall
into one of three categories: 1) ItÆs not very good, but thanks for sharing; 2)
ItÆs okay, but a lot needs to change; or 3) Well done, we expect the next will
be even better. Holly EmblemÆs 2008 review of Not to Reason WhyÆs Who Wants
Flowers When They're Dead? is an example of the latter. All too often, artists
fail to live up to expectations. Not to Reason Why is the exception, the sort of
act that makes fans puff with proprietary pride: ôYes, well I was listening to
them last year.ö But even more importantly, Not to Reason Why is a band to
wonder at, to cheer for, and to congratulate, because Would You Hug Fire? turns
out to be one of the yearÆs stronger post-rock releases.
In order to get to this point, the Cali foursome had to do a lot of work. First,
of course, they had to practice their instruments û the playing here is tight
and instinctive. Second, they had to hone their compositional skills û the EP
was solid, but the album is deep. Third, they had to choose a signature sound û
the math rock and ambient influences described by Holly now take a back seat to
post-rock (and thank God, because the genre is in desperate need of
revitalization). The band also secured additional instrumentation: a trumpet on
one track, strings and double bass on others. As bonuses, they released the
album on vinyl and included four double-sided glossy art cards (one side for
each song) with each LP and CD release. Did they leave anything out? Not really.
The album looks good, feels good, and sounds good. A scented version might have
been too much to ask.
Would You Hug Fire? provides eight post-rock pleasures, whose rustling,
cumulative effect is astonishing. The album is upbeat and uplifting, a
collection of happy compositions with a desire to inspire: fortune cookies
wrapped in guitars. Each piece has a defining moment: handclaps, military drums,
a tempo shift, a two-note finale, the sound of conversation, an extended piano
prelude, a slowly-emerging trumpet, a false ending, followed by choir-like
vocals. ôZeitgeistö rolls with unexpected power, given that it is one of the
stringless tracks. The twelve-minute closer, ôAncients,ö makes full use of the
orchestral enhancements and easily corners the attention at the punchbowl.
...the band has doubled their appeal by releasing an album better than their EP.
Suffice it to say that IÆll be buying everything they record until further
notice. Last year, they were the band of the future. This year, theyÆve
arrived."
-Richard Allen
The Silent Ballet