SCARS OF THE MIDWEST

BLUENECK are a band out of the UK and not the USA which is what I thought when I saw the album's title. This is their debut from 2005. Vocals, two guitars, piano, bass and drums round out the sound. And what a sound it is! It has everything I like about Post-Rock, those contrasts between the mellow and explosive sounds, the buildups, the emotion, the atmosphere and of course as the album's title conveys the sadness and melancholia. The fragile vocals suit the music well. There isn't a song on here that I don't really like, this has been a pleasure.

"The Hills Have Eyes" is a just over 1 minute intro that has more in common with Psychedelia than anything else. The atmosphere builds as faint spoken words can be heard and more including guitar expressions. It builds to a climax. "Judas! Judas!" has dark piano lines to start in atmosphere. A beat joins in before 2 minutes as it builds. This is good! It settles back after 2 1/2 minutes as piano and a beat continue along with experimental sounds and atmosphere. It's building again before 3 1/2 minutes. A calm before 5 minutes with experimental sounds end it as it blends into the next song.

"Olg" opens with various sampled words and experimental sounds then the guitar and piano start to take over as fragile vocals join in. It starts to build some before 2 minutes. I like this. It settles back before 3 minutes. Sounds like bowed guitar here and earlier. It's building before 3 1/2 minutes but more powerful this time. Great sound! This continues to before 5 1/2 minutes as it then settles down to the end. "Le:465" opens with sounds that build, very atmospheric as picked guitar joins in then vocals just before a minute. Bass after 2 minutes. There's something emotional about this as piano joins in as well around 3 minutes. it kicks in hard at 4 1/2 minutes.

"Ub1" opens with atmosphere as slowly played piano arrives a minute in. Some sampled voices a minute later then back to atmosphere only to end it. It blends into "Epiphany" possibly my favourite song on here. The atmosphere continues then piano before a minute then vocals. The vocals sound so sad. It kicks in hard before 5 minutes as the vocals step aside. It calms down with piano and atmosphere before 7 minutes.

"Ub2" opens with relaxed piano as soft vocals join in. Guitar and a beat 1 1/2 minutes in as it builds. A fuller sound 3 minutes in. So good! It settles back before 4 1/2 minutes with piano and atmosphere. Soft vocals after 5 minutes again with experimental sounds, piano and atmosphere. Man another great tune. "Amok" opens with faint sampled vocal sounds then atmosphere rolls in with picked guitar. The atmosphere gets louder until we have a full sound 1 1/2 minutes in. This is so emotional here. It does settle back some but then builds again. Drums kick in then vocals sounds before 4 minutes before it settles back again.

"Yesterday's Forgotten" is the most experimental track on here and the closer. Atmosphere and other sounds before faint vocals join in. The atmosphere takes over 1 1/2 minutes in with piano then the vocals return. A loud atmosphere after 2 1/2 minutes as the vocals can hardly be made out. A calm 3 1/2 minutes in then experimental sounds kick in. It's strangely otherworldly to end it.

So glad I took a chance on this one back in the day, I know they have released several over the years but this is the only one I own. And I'm so glad I do!