PLAINS OF THE PURPLE BUFFALO

*Shels

Experimental/Post Metal

4.08 | 49 ratings

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Epignosis
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator

This album alternates between bright vociferousness and halcyon drowsiness, just as the Earth experiences days and nights. It's as picturesque as a musical album could be.

'Journey to the Plains' The opening seconds create a vaguely lonely feeling right away, but when the band opens up, the music is as grand and spacious as the plains of the Midwest. The repetitive lead that serves as the pinnacle of the piece works beautifully over the basic chord progression.

'Plains of the Purple Buffalo (Part One)' Thin, distant guitar makes me think of rainfall pattering on a tin roof in the dark desert.

'Plains of the Purple Buffalo (Part Two)' In stark contrast to part one, part two comes in heavy and triumphant. The uplifting nature of the piece reaches a stunning climax midway through.

'Searching For Zihuatanejo' Although a quiet somnolence pervades the first half, the band's characteristic jubilance returns in the second. It's almost as poignant as Red violating his parole and reuniting with his friend Andy Dufrense.

'Vision Quest' This sounds like wandering around in the desert at night, searching for some hidden meaning, only to have the sunrise spill over the horizon, bathing the seeker in its radiance.

'Atoll' Here is a fleeting, angelic interlude.

'Butterflies (On Luci's Way)' This is initially different. Instead of sweeping melodic post rock or still peacefulness, the band offers a gentle acoustic song that quickly evolves into the former style.

'Сrown of Eagle Feathers' This short piece is more in line with generic post rock, only with a heavier wash of sound.

'Bastien's Angels' Incredibly quiet (at times nonexistent) and then explosive, this piece is not on par with some of the more majestic passages that the album has presented up to this point.

'Conqueror' Another quiet but impassioned song, this has an almost tribal, spiritual feel to it.

'The Spirit Horse' Barely audible, 'The Spirit Horse' eventually returns to the tribal-inspired post rock.

'Waking' Another inexplicably quiet piece, this one repeats the same passages.

'Leaving the Plains' Using a brass lead and with a calm, anthem-like demeanor, the final piece seems like a wondrous valediction.

Epignosis | 4/5 | 2013-6-14

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