BLESSED ARE THE BONDS

I believe it was Brian Eno that described ambient music as being music you could either listen to and pay attention to it, or let it wash into the background. While this certainly isn't anywhere near ambient music in the traditional sense, the Pax Cecilia's opus seems to function in either sense. Being that it's post-rock, there are alot of drawn out buildups and atmospherics involved, and while alot of it is beautiful and works very well, there seems to be a bit too much downtime on the album to warrant it being called a 'masterpiece,' even though it certainly has many of the suitable qualities of one.

Described to me as being a 'Part The Second with more piano' (citing the acclaimed maudlin of the Well album) there is a heavy piano presense on the album. The album opens up with it's strongest, most consisely composed and performed piece of music, entitled 'The Tragedy.' Sounding somewhat like a cross between Isis and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, the Pax Cecilia expertly builds up tension, starting with piano, gently adding an orchestral element, before adding vocals and finally drums into the mix. The emotional impact is something to behold.

'Blessed Are The Bonds' looses focus at parts, which is frustrating, because the parts that usually come after the unfocused, boring parts are of absolute beauty and strength. The first five minutes of 'The Water Song' for example, have very little going on in them, before recurring textures start taking place and the album leaps into one of it's most spectacular moments of beauty.

'The Tree' is also a masterful composition. A metal, minimalistic (a la Phillip Glass) building piece, it works once again at building up the drama moment by moment.

'Blessed Are The Bonds' is a very imperfect album, but certainly worth a good listen to anyone that's a fan of post-rock or metal.

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