DEPARTURE SONGS

It is rare (at least for me) that an album you know nothing about shows its excellence from the first listen. I understood it had something special but I had no idea that I was about to change my top 5 for good. I know albums released nowadays have no chance beating the 70's masterpieces in the popular opinion but, in all honesty, this is the case here.

It is a concept album and, as the band says, it is "inspired by failed, yet epic and honourable journeys or events throughout history where people have done extraordinary things for the greater good of those around them, and the progress of the human race itself. This is a celebration and a tribute. Each song has it's own story and is a soundtrack to that story". The four stories "talk" about a man who sacrificed himself for the salvation of his friends, three brave men who did the same to prevent a huge catastrophe (the Chernobyl disaster), a diver who broke the limits to recover the body of a fellow dead diver, but eventually overestimated his abilities and the well known Challenger disaster. The seed that gave birth to this collection of stories was the death of bandmate Chris Torpy two years before and that is evident throughout every composition. Actually not his death, but the band's overcoming of that. Every track is full of emotion, even if not a single word is sang. There are some recorded speeches by influential men though.

The music can certainly be described as post-rock. I personally am not a huge fan of the sub-genre although the post-rock aficionados will feel like home. As you can see, there are lengthy compositions that build up perfectly to a climax (or several climaxes for that matter). The tracks I like the most are the opener and the centrepiece, but all of them are equally moving and emotional. What amazes me is that after all these years of music writing some people in Australia managed to write original music. There is still hope!

There are albums that make you feel and there are albums that make you think. And then there is Departure Songs that does both. It throws the pseudo-inspirational efforts you forget after the first listen (if you can make it that far) in the gutter. This is a work of art of the highest calibre, phenomenal by today's standards, something that you will remember for a long, long time. I cannot stretch it enough. You have to listen to this album. You can do it for free on the band's bandcamp page (where you can also find a lot of interesting background information and buy this masterpiece) or on youtube.

4.5 stars. WE LOST THE SEA are a Australian band and this is studio album number three. The first two featured an extreme vocalist with a heavier sound. Sadly the singer took his own life and this particular recording has no vocals and is pure Post-Rock. And what a Post-Rock album it is! A six piece band with three guitarists, bass, keyboards and drums. Some guest cello on three tracks and guest trumpet on two songs. The interesting thing about this record is that it is a concept album about people who have given their lives in heroic ways. So four stories over five tracks all instrumental although we get lots of samples helping us with these incredible events in history. This album sounds amazing and is one I've had cranked all last week and this week too.

"A Gallant Gentleman" sounds so beautiful to start with that picked guitar that sort of echoes. Just gorgeous as other relaxed sounds join in before 3 minutes. Drums and a fuller sound after 3 minutes as it turns somewhat powerful. Vocal melodies as it settles back down before 5 minutes. Again just a beautiful sound here. Such a great way to open the album. "Bogatyri!" opens with relaxed guitar melodies then bass and a beat join in before 2 minutes. It starts to build slightly after 4minutes. This continues as the guitar starts to amp it up. Man this is good! It's fairly heavy late but no explosion of sound. Post-Rock styled guitars end it. Another fantastic track! "The Last Dive Of David Shaw" opens with faint water sounds and the obvious sounds of a scuba diver with that breathing. Distant spoken words here too then some atmosphere 2 minutes in along with static before picked guitar takes over before 2 1/2 minutes. Another guitar arrives and a light beat before 3 minutes. Mellow is the word but it starts to build as it turns louder before 4 1/2 minutes. Suddenly minute later it calms right down to silence only then pulses arrive just before 6 minutes along with atmosphere and guitar. It starts to turn fuller 8 minutes in. Then even louder at 9 1/2 minutes, quite powerful in fact before settling back down just before 14 minutes. Piano eventually takes over to end it.

"Challenger Part 1-Flight" is the almost 24 minute epic track on here. Opening with an interview with a man who discusses the relation of dreams to going to outer space. I like how when he finishes it up some 5 1/2 minutes in the atmosphere has turned increasingly louder to almost not hearing him. A calm follows with picked guitar. It kicks in just before 9 1/2 minutes. So good! A definite highlight for me and this continues until it settles back just before 12 minutes. The guitar is crying out at 12 1/2 minutes. It then calms right down before 14 1/2 minutes. Synth sounds follow then guitar before we get the audio for the countdown 16 1/2 minutes in. An intense determined sound here as the audio continues. Kicking butt here then it kicks in even harder after 18 minutes. It starts to wind down after 21 1/2 minutes as people express their disbelief at what has just happened. Lots of confusion as a lady says "They were here and now they're gone".

This blends into "Challenger Part 2-A Swan Song" as distant atmosphere continues as picked guitar arrives and starts to echo sadly. Strummed guitar and a beat join in after 3 minutes. It slowly starts to build until kicking in with power at 5 1/2 minutes. Great sound! It kicks in even harder around 6 1/2 minutes before settling back as we hear the speech from Ronald Reagan as he relates so wonderfully the story of Sir Francis Drake some 400 years earlier. Nice.

If not for length of "The last Dive Of David Shaw" I would be giving this 5 stars for sure. I found that track to have prolonged passages that could have easily been shortened making it much better to my ears. Just my opinion. Love this album though, one of my all time favourite Post-Rock records without a doubt.

We Lost The Sea is one of a kind. I discover this band with this album, and honestly, I fall in love with this deeply, dreamlink and powerfull song ot them.

After the lost of his vocalist, the band would choose the instrumental way. And is massive personal, intimate and sincere with this event. The album remains all of the moments of a change in the soul of the band, remembering to his frontman.

Departure Songs is briliant, non for people who's expecting more of the classic We Lost The Sea, I mean, It's a tribute, a ode, a long and peacefull piece of art.

-Gallant Gentleman is pure gold for a first song. So personal, te begining of what is coming. Slow, with that guitar intro and the coral voices made it so deeply beutiful.

-Bogatiry is my favorite song of this album. Is powerfull and remains me to this classic prog song with a rythm in 'crescendo'. A new classic for the band.

-The Last Dive of Daid Schawn is so intense, but kind of melancholy with a little bit of frenetic and obscure guitars.

-Challenger Part 1 - Flight is the peak of the album, with a strong and powerfull rythm. It seems like a trip when they have to restructure their minds and souls.

-Challenger Part 1 - A Swan Song is, for me, the parting for Chris Torpy. Without a doubt is one of the one of the most beautiful songs of Post-Metal/Rock. A great closing for this band.

4.5/5 Pure gold, but not the best of all time of the genre.