TERTIA

I agree with snobb: full instrumental music must be very different, have great diversity and, yes, complexity (though melody is, IMHO, also important in order to 'hook' the listener). While CASPIAN does a fine--even great--job of creating classic post rock--with great production and performances, better than average melodies, and some interesting shifts in dynamics--the genre as a whole makes it rather difficult to make an entire album--expecially a long (more than 60 mins.) one--of intriguing, diverse, attention-grabbing songs. I rate CASPIAN's "Tertia" in the upper echelon of post rock/math rock albums I've heard--with MOGWAI, MONO, APPLESEED CAST RED SPAROWES, MASERATI, and THE MERCURY PROGRAM but not quite up there with my favorites: GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT's "All Is Violent, All Is Bright" or MY EDUCATION's "Sunrise" or " GIFTS FROM ENOLA's "Gifts from Enola" or COLLAPSE UNDER THE EMPIRE's " The Sirens Sound" or DATURAH's "Reveries." (ULVER's "Shadows of the Sun" I do not really consider a post rock/math rock album--I think it is mis-categorized.) Perhaps the 'EP' format is best for these post rock/math rock bands. Still, Caspian has put out a collection of very high quality if formatted songs--many with catchy melodies and twists.

My favorites are: "Ghost of the Garden City" and "Epochs in Dmaj"--5 stars; " La Ceurva," "Vienna," and "Sycamore"--4 stars.

The album over all is 3.5 stars: Good, but not essential for the general prog lover, Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection for fans of the Post Rock/Math Rock sub-genre.