THE TREE THAT BEARS THE EQUINE FRUIT

Anta's The Tree That Bears the Equine Fruit was an unexpected gem in 2010. Combining space rock with stoner and symphonic music, this album possesses melodic character with an edge. Musically, the band relies on repetition but not to the point of stagnation; the compositions are unhurried and heavy, achieving just the right amount of mileage from each riff. Production-wise, this album has a faux-retro sound, which is to say, it is muffled and lacks a polished resonance. For those who enjoyed Astra's The Weirding from 2009, this is highly recommended, and recommended regardless.

"Abyssal Ibis" A weighty moodiness fills the atmosphere as a crashing cymbal beckons the listener to feast. Jarring bass with two pairs of organ notes create a sinister texture. Midway through, the organ adopts a flowing series of quarter notes, as the rhythm section adds a calm, victorious panache.

"Needling Seamaw" A sprightly yet lumbering piece in 5/4, this tune features a lively organ riff with an electric guitar, heavy on the reverb, puncturing through. The instrumentation rambles around this same rhythmic skeleton throughout, yet enjoys a measure of dynamism with respect to volume and sonic textures.

"Firn" Low, haunting tones set the mood initially, but an eerie, nostalgic piano surfaces, serving as a poignant, sorrowful, beautiful interlude.

"Abtenauer Oak" Following the quiet intermission, the repetitive organ returns, emerging plaintively. This mournful piece is akin to post-rock in feel, only awash with organ and effects rather than guitars.

"Apical Dominance" Perhaps the most memorable of the five tracks, "Apical Dominance" relies more heavily on a synthesizer lead, rumbling bass, and ponderous yet effective drumming. It is certainly the most dynamic of the music on the album, especially in terms of composition. The synthesizer-led theme is a great motif, and is a perfect catharsis for the strident bit that precedes it. After hearkening back to the beginning of the piece, the album concludes in a raucous manner.