SUNLIGHT ASCENDING

"You Don't Belong Here" is the third release from this young outfit from Detroit. Is it their best so far? Hard to say since their prior release, "All The Memories, All At Once" is a post-rock masterpiece. That said, "You Don't Belong Here" comes at the listener hard and strong with everything a fan of the genre could want...ominous edginess, crescendos, mature playing and plenty of emotion. This is only a 4-song release so if this is anything like what's to follow in a full-length, well, it should be exciting. Based on a concept of the four seasons, this recording is the result of combining Detroit youngsters still in their teens with Motown mastering legend Bob Dennis (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Supremes). Standout tracks on this EP are "Winter (Diorama Dream)" and "Summer (The Golden Plain)" which sounds like U2's Edge had his hands all over it. Epic and emotional, "You Don't Belong Here" continues Sunlight Ascending's, dare I say, ascension, up the post-rock ladder...Awesome!

All the Memories, All at Once is the first release from the Michigan based post-rock band Sunlight Ascending. For a debut from a bunch of kids, it's put together very well.

Listening to this album really requires either a vast appreciation for the post-rock genre, or a feeling of lethargy. For the most part the album is relatively slow and isn't something that (personally) could be played often. Listening to this album from start to finish some of the songs kind of sound the same. Tremolo picking here, slow sound-scape here, break down there. To just listen to one or two songs here and there, this album seems really awesome. Problem is, once you go to listen through the whole thing it all starts to meld and you may find yourself bored.

While this album definitely has it's highlights ("Black Bear" comes to mind), there is definitely a weak feeling to the whole album. Perhaps I'm not the best judge for this band considering my insufficient knowledge of post-rock as a whole, but there are a few songs on this album that really stick out to me at times.

I give this album a three. It's certainly not for everyone, but is worth a listen for anyone interested in post-rock or just broadening their musical horizons. Cool album name, cool album art, decent tracks.