BROAD PEAK

Broad Peak is the other Halma album that I have, apart from the predecessor Back to Pascal that I have reviewed before. What the two albums have in common is the minimalist meditative post rock approach with much repetition and slow development, and the generally slow to medium relaxed speed. Both albums are largely instrumental with singing used only very economically on one track.

Broad Peak is the more relaxed positive daylight mood album, whereas Back to Pascal is the darker one. Particularly, Broad Peak has more conventional if calm and relaxed bass lines as opposed to the super low frequency static bass of Pascal. Broad Peak has somewhat more variation, it isn't that much dominated by a sound concept as is Pascal, but that isn't really difficult, and surely it doesn't mean Peak is a very varied album by general standards.

Regarding the quality of the tracks, Broad Peak is also more varied. I love Tracks 1, 2, and 8, Folden Fog, Opal, and Pacific Telegram. On these the band comes up with delicate tasteful melodic motifs that have an addictive quality. The other tracks, although all nice to listen to, seem less inspired. Maybe Formed in a Vacuum is the next best, the one with most development and dynamic on the album. Some others are so smooth and calm, they don't give the listener anything to put their teeth into. It's all enjoyable as a background but I'd really only put the album on for the three to four named tracks.

Overall I end up with the same 3 star rating as for Pascal, but here some stuff is higher, some lower, whereas Pascal is very consistent. And remember, 3 means "good but non-essential", if I give 3 stars it surely deserves the "good" label, so if relaxed post rock is your kind of thing, try this one out.