O SOUNDTRACK MY HEART

Pivot (sometimes known as PVT) are a post-rock group from Australia. This is their second album and the only one I have heard. Some have referred to them as a "math-rock" band, and others as a "Post-rock" group. To me, they sound more electronic than either genre. John McEntire of Tortoise mixed this album, something he seems to have done a lot of in the 2000s. Compared to earlier releases, this album only features three members: the Pike brothers and electronic artist Dave Miller. Although I guess technically post-rock, there is strong IDM and hip-hop influences here. Some of the songs have jagged, start/stop type beats. This is instrumetnal music but there are sometimes "ahh" type vocals, but I am not sure if they are "real" or not.

"In The Blood" has a great low-budget video for this song. One of the better songs on the album. The song is based around a great bass synth riff, with some more melodic synths coming and going. A steady drumbeat with programmed electronic percussion accents here and there. Cool almost atonal guitar playing which sounds improvised. The title track begins with a synth melody that sounds like it could have come from an old Nintendo game. Then it goes sort of ambient reggae before the melody returns, but now on guitar. After it goes into a rocking riff with guitars and drums playing in unison. Later gets more typical post-rocky but with a steady beat. Some cool handclap sounds later on as the opening melody is reprised. The sound is now reggae-rock.

"Fool In Rain" is an electronic and ambient piece with great synths and a steady beat on drum machine. "Sweet Memory" is a highlight. Starts off with a steady one-string bass line and drums before a mellower part with guitar. It's sometimes hard to tell what is actual drumming and what is programmed drumming. Goes into a type of riff in the middle. Towards the end changes to a slower paced bass synth heavy part which is terrific. Guitars and drums get more rocking at the very end. "Didn't I Furious" is based around a repetative weird synth riff. Atonal distorted guitar plays over top of it. The guitar gets more riff-y off and on. Cool synth-generated effects throughout the song.

"Epsilon" is another highlight. Atmospheric volume pedal effects from guitar play over top of weird programmed synth sounds. A little bit of bass and some minimal electronic percussion join in. More sounds get added. Halfway goes into a great power-pop/New Wave sounding part that sounds like something from an old Nintendo game until the guitar comes in. Some interesting overdubbed drumming as the guitar plays something in between a riff and a solo. Just a great song overall. The last song is kind of boring and brings down the quality of the album a bit; but it is the last song.

Great album. I don't think they have followed this up yet. As far as I know they have not disbanded. Hard to say who to recommend this to, but if you like post-rock which flirts with electronica and places importance on the rhythm section, this may be for you. I like how most of the songs kind of blend into each other, yet are not segued at all. Anyway, I'll give this 4 stars.