SPIRES

1. "Spires" (4:41) because of the prominence of the tuned percussion, I find this quite reminiscent of the Post Rock done by Chicago-based band ALGERNON. The song has quite a lively, upbeat mood to it, which is quite nice for the Post Rock sub-genre. (8.875/10)

2. "Tower" (4:03) more reminiscent of another Chicago-based Post Rock band, MONOBODY, but then shifts into ANATHEMA territory with its guitar melody in the transitional bridge to the more CASPIAN-like body of the song. I like this more upbeat, optimistic strain in Post Rock. Then it just kind of stops, ends without any resolution, warning, or fanfare. Odd. (8.75/10)

3. "Belfry" (5:28) a more math-rock "Discipline"-like weave to open things up into a more Texas-twang sounding Post Rock. (8.667/10)

4. "Pinnacles" (4:53) a refreshingly unusual palette of instrumental sounds leads into another more Math Rock weave but that's just the first first 90 seconds of the song. Things start to morph and shift after that to make things very interesting. The drums, in particular are quite animated and remarkable, as are the bass and vibraphone contributions, but it's those guitars that really get me. Great tune! (9/10)

5. "Steeple" (6:42) gorgeous music from an odd effected chamber/orchestra ensemble ' until 2:29, that is. Then the music becomes more Post Rock-sounding--though retaining its pretty semi-jazzy chord progressions. The work of the vibraphone and guitars are especially striking--really sucking me into their work. Great quirky bridge repetitions in the end of the sixth minute lead into the spacey reverse tape ending. Excellent song! (9.33/10)

6. "Obelisk" (8:34) opens with a spacey Nature soundscape with glockenspiel and synths over which guitar, vibraphone, bass, and deep synth-bass-cussion plays. Very TORTOISE-like. Bass, drums, and guitars (two) really shine in the mid-section. (18.25/20)

7. "Finial" (11:01) pretty standard, un-developing Post Rock with lots of subtleties but very few dramatic shifts or changes--one in the sixth minute and one around 8:30 (the song's best section). (Weird searing electric guitar solo at the very end, just as the song is starting to fade out.) (17.50/20)

It's been a minute since I've heard anything new in the Post Rock world that interested me and invited me to stay. Matt, Ben, Quinn, Alex, and Peter: Congratulations! You've really brought something new to the sub-genre--a phenomenon that seems to be growing increasingly less likely.

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of jazzy Post Rock music--an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection.