Great Earthquake
Drawings Sensory Projects If you wanted a word to describe the artistic boundaries of Great Earthquake, aka one man band Noah Symons, I'd probably say that word would be "eclectic". Mr. Symons, as well as playing in art-folk and post-punk bands, also draws, paints and works as a barista. This all made me quite curious as to what the caffeinated gent would come up with on Great Earthquake's album 'Drawings'. The short answer is a lot of chaotic beauty, with a sound which is part folk, part post-rock and part pop song. The palette is distinctive - lots of clattering drums, tinkling glockenspiels, glistening electronic touches, slow burn electric guitars and deep bass lines. The end result is an album which is often noisy, but with an undercurrent of the beautifully demented. When Symons sets his mind to it, he can successfully ape about any sound he so chooses. The pretty ringing glockenspiels of The Passing could happily belong on a Decoder Ring record, while Words and Images uses the accordion to great effect, underpinned by excellent guest vocals courtesy of Maude Farrugia which are strongly reminiscent of Joanna Newsom on Valium. However, 'Drawings' is at its best when Symons dedicates his considerable talents to the slow burn of songs like 8-minute album centrepiece Create or the slightly atonal Different Orders. Utilising the long builds of post-rock, but combined with a furious drumming style that is distinctly his own, these tracks create a fascinating fusion of energetic, but stately music. By the time energetic, poppy closer 1step. 2step. Stop! rolls around, with its long drum intro (that somehow avoids dropping into the clich� of a drum solo) you'll be equally impressed and slightly exhausted by the energy, glacial beauty and general uniqueness on display here. If that sounds like a bundle of contradictions, that's because Great Earthquake is, and that's what makes 'Drawings' so fascinating an album.  |
Issue 498
Music
