IT'S HERE, BUT I HAVE NO NAMES FOR IT

Sleepmakeswaves is from Australia and has been billed as a 'post-rock' band. Well, on this album I hear plenty of rock, as in modern prog rock, but I don't hear anything really 'post'-like. This is essentially an all-instrumental album (some ethereal background vocalizing on a couple tracks) that is bold and dynamic, very accomplished musically, nicely arranged, which I very much enjoyed. Lots of energy and dynamics, heavy crunchy guitars, big drum sound, as well as some needed quieter moments and interludes. However, it comes across to me very much as the backing tracks for a great album, but what is still missing for what it needs to BE a great album, are strong melodies and lead lines. Great songs that just seem to be missing the main vocal or instrumental melodies. Perhaps that is their point, that they don't need vocal or instrumental lead melodic lines to be great. But if that is the case, their music undermines that very point, because most of these songs seem to be crying out for a strong lead vocal or instrumental melodic lead laid down over the top of these excellent tracks. Sure, some work just fine as atmospheric interludes (such as Verdigris), but most still need that melodic line to anchor the song and make it really memorable. It just seems unfinished. Every time I listen to this I find myslf trying to add in the vocal, lead, or solo lines that seem like they ought to be there, but aren't. Still very enjoyable, great sound, but can't shake the feeling that this hasn't yet lived up to its full musical potential. Best Tracks: Super Realm Park, Ritual Control, Verdigris, Black Paradise, title track. Rating: 3.5 stars

Perhaps my favorite discovery of 2011--one of Prog's all-time best years--is back after a seven year absence with a refreshingly mature mix of high-powered Post Rock. Two of the band's founders remain, and they're making a go of it as only a trio.

1. "All Hail Skull" (4:45) great melodies, great switches (three of them), great layering, great bass play, great power. A great song. (9.25/10)

2. "Super Realm Park" (5:11) I love the spacious central motif but the first part is nothing special. Luckily it ends well. (8.75/10)

3. "Remote Control" (4:07) impressive bass play in the long opening before it turns kind of 1980s techno-pop CURE/DEPECHE MODE/TEARS FOR FEARS-like. A song that powers through from start tot finish. (8.875/10)

4. "Black Paradise" (4:46) arpeggiated acoustic guitar chords?!?!? WTF?!! And it's pretty! Second guitar (electric) joins in the weave-making in the second minute, eventually speeding up (do I hear a banjo-like instrument in there too?) Drums kick in at the end of the second minute, establishing a more TEARS FOR FEARS "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" feel and sound (and drum pattern) for the next minute before synth strings join in. Nice. I'll probably be listening to this one a lot. (9/10)

5. "Verdigris" (3:31) VANGELIS-like saw synth (and other synth sounds) weave together to create a BLADE RUNNER-like atmosphere for 90 seconds before piano-like MIDI keyboard assumes the lead with a gentle, simple melody with the synth(orch)estra continues on its space journey beneath. Actually very cool--very cinematic. (9/10)

6. "Terror Future" (4:56) power Post Rock of a very familiar style and sound--even when the vocals start in the fourth minute. Great drum-led syncopated finish. (8.75/10)

7. "It's Here, But I Have No Names for It" (8:29) slow-strummed no-effects electric guitar opens this one before scaled-down drums, bass. and second electric guitar takes the lead, playing a melody that sounds like the American Southwest. There is a very open, acoustic MY EDUCATION-like sound and style to this song that feels weird but comes off as cool--especially as one of the lead guitar tracks goes wildly off the rails, pulling the rhythm section up beneath it, ramping up the volume until the middle of the fourth minute when everybody cuts out and they slowly start over with a more reverbed variation of the opening over which multiple voiced "background" singing occurs. This goes on until 5:50 when the full band onslaught returns--this time to urge the tremolo lead guitar to soar to mythical heights. Excellent though classic Post Rock song. (18/20)

8. "This Close Forever" (4:41) this time the electric guitar arpeggi are both drencged in reverbed and echoedm giving the lead fuitar the effect of weaving wit and within itself. Alex and Tim join in, stop, and then return with all dials turned up to eleven! The drums, bass, and multiple guitar tracks over the final two minutes are so intense and awesome! Great finish! (9.125/10)

Total time: 40:24

The songs are quite disparate, as if gathered over a long period of time and, thus, representative of many different phases and influences over the past seven plus years. It works but I don't think I'll ever be able to like a sleepmakeswaves album so much as that amazing debut!

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of diverse Post Rock from one of Australia's most under-appreciated exports.