Colleen - Everyone Alive Wants Answers

Retrospective
Colleen
Everyone Alive Wants Answers
(Leaf, 2003)
9.5/10

Producing miniature loop based suites; Colleen’s debut Everyone Alive Wants Answers plays like an elaborate dream or a lulling nightmare. The pseudonym of artist Cecile Schott, Colleen has released two proper full length records since her debut, including this year’s Les Ondes Silencieuses which sees her expanding into more classical areas. Even with her constantly forward thinking and consistently mesmerizing catalog it is Everything Alive Wants Answers that truly bewitches beyond all else. Mixing beauty with magic and magic with mystery and mystery with horror, Everything Alive Wants Answers could have easily been the cinematic mood piece that has spun Pan’s Labyrinth. Colleen incorporates an organic nature to her electronic stylings that involves a barrage of classical instruments along with purposeful recording methods and found sound and field recordings. Schott shows her mastery of the mini opus with pop sized gems that instantly transform you inner disposition. While the first halve may playfully lift, depending on your temperament, the second halve of the disc dips undoubtedly into creepier territory, guiding you through a serious of slightly off-kilter music box sonatas. All and all, Colleen’s debut is a masterfully unique piece of art that must be heard to be truly understood.

-Mr. Thistle

Efterklang - Under Giant Trees

Efterklang
Under Giant Trees
(2007, Leaf)
7.0/10

Efterklang’s limited min album, Under Giant Trees is a joy for completists. The release couples beautiful packaging with five songs that were written to accompany the band as they supported their terrific debut, Tripper. Under Giant Trees’ five tracks clocks in at just under 30 minutes taking obvious influences from glitch electronica and symphonic post rock ala Mum, Rachels and Colleen. Efterklang also adds some enjoyable choral elements with both female and male vocals to their particular concoction being a worthy addition among their contemporaries. Even while Under Giant Trees is enjoyable and has some genuine beauty, the little mini release fails to have the cohesion, even within its songs that Tripper had as a debut album. A fitting companion but not an introduction. Fortunately, Under Giant Trees still imbeds enough interest to keep me in steady watch for their true follow up.

-Mr. Thistle

Efterklang – Towards the Bare Hill