TALES & DREAMS

KWOON are a Post-Rock band out of France and this is their debut released back in 2006. The band were big time into the supernatural so those themes are the focus which includes the haunting album cover. The music is very ambient for the most part, not too many breakouts and a RADIOHEAD vibe did come to my attention a few times.

"Intro" is just that, a short piece that opens with atmosphere as the piano joins in followed by synths and faint vocals. It builds late before ending in a spacey manner. "I Lived On The Moon" opens with picked guitar and faint vocals, in fact it's difficult to make out what he's singing. A fuller sound before 2 minutes as the vocals stop and sounds slowly swirl. Vocals are back. This has a very relaxed sound throughout. "Blue Melody" is just as the title suggest, very melancholic with picked guitar, atmosphere and distant vocals. Vocals stop before 2 1/2 minutes and they won't return. It then kicks in hard before 4 1/2 minutes to dramatic affects but it ends softly. "The Beast" opens with what sounds like faint organ that slowly pulsates and then we get some brief vocal expressions around 3 minutes then picked guitar after 4 minutes. This is a tough song to sit through, it's so minimalistic.

"Eternal Jellyfish Ballet" features gently picked guitar and not much else which makes this a longer listen than the previous tune. But then at 4 minutes it kicks into a more powerful sound. Still not a fan of this one. "Last Shadow" has some energy to it with distorted guitars leading the way throughout. "Tinkleh" has these faint vocals joining the picked guitar rather quickly. Drums 1 1/2 minutes in as it builds some. "Tinkleh Skofa" has almost an orchestral sound to it with a pulsating beat helping out. "The Door" features vocals and a relaxed sound that sort of drone together which I'm not into. "Kwoon" starts out with intricate and pastoral guitar along with atmosphere. The latter turns more powerful before 1 1/2 minutes and it's all louder a minute later including some Post-Rock styled guitar.

Some rate this very highly as one of those Post-Rock must-haves but for my tastes it does little for me overall. I'm glad I checked it out though.