IMPLOSION

This band is one of my heroes. For someone like me, when you see a new UZ album sitting on the shelf, you don't hesitate in buying it. And as expected, it does not disappoint. Nor does it surprise, however. It seems that UZ is unfolding the natural evolution seen in their last two albums, each of which pushed a little further in this direction. What is interesting here is the shortness of the tracks. The structures are much simpler at first listen, and it seems that they don't have enough time to develop into full-blown songs. It's as if what you are getting are snippets of songs that are unfinished, strung together across the album's 50 minutes. But I guess they know what they are doing, after all, if they don't then we're all in trouble. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt here, since the music is beyond a mere mortal like myself to understand fully. Some of these snippets are pretty catchy, too, and you will find yourself whistling along after repeated listens. Strangely, Falling Rain Dance reminds me very much of Ravel's Bolero. Gone also is the oppressive, overbearing atmosphere of doom of their early works, and that is why I listen to them; for the dissonance, fear, panic, and gloom. Maybe that's why I'm only giving it 4 stars, while still acknowledging the brilliance of the work.