Instrumental music will always have that Marmite-y aspect in that you will either love or hate it. I know as many people who find Mogwai, or indeed Pelican, duller than a Sunday afternoon watching paint dry as I do people who rate them as peerless innovators for, just as a good picture can say a thousand words, so can a good tune.
Pelican came under some fire last time round for moving a touch too far from the metallic pastures that spawned them. This time, after a deft move to the mighty Southern Lord imprint, they are heavier and more concise and highly enjoyable it is too. Opening track “glimmer” does exactly that, with a tune slowly emerging from a sea of noise, before pounding drums cleave the sense like a burst of sunlight through parted clouds. The guitars interweave and overlap each other, all backed with suitable bite by the rhythm section. It’s an inspiring opener and shows that Pelican are back to their fiery best.
“The Creeper” raises itself out of a welter of distortion to render a relaxed vibe in the verse before the chorus piles upon layer after layer of maxed-out guitar, creating a tense dynamic within the song that brings the light and shade of the music into sharp relief. “Ephemeral” has a tightly coiled central riff that twists and turns its way through the track. “Specks of light” is an epic at almost eight minutes that pass in the blink of an eye. “Strung up from the sky” is an awesome piece of work that opens calmly before chugging guitars smash the mood to pieces and howling guitars rage across the track, scarring the landscape. It’s a real album highlight and should be forced upon anyone who claims instrumental music as “dull”.
“An inch above sand” hits the ground hard with a heavy, mid-tempo groove that only seems to get louder as the track progresses. “What we all come to need”, by contrast, is more relaxed although still featuring some evilly distorted guitar lurking away in the background. Less weighty than the previous track, it still cruises along on a powerful drum beat and features some beautiful shimmering guitar work. “Final Breath” is the most surprising track on the album as it features vocals. Laid back and quite beautiful it is the perfect closer to an album filled with wonders.
Despite some sections of the music press having lost faith with Pelican, this album should see them set firmly back on the path to acclaim as it is an astonishing work of confidence and beauty. At fifty minutes, not only does it not outstay its welcome but it leaves the listener hankering for more. With guest appearances from Greg Anderson and Aaron Turner (credited as Aaron Turnip on the inner sleeve!!), stunning accompanying art work and a flawless production, this is the perfect album to unwind to after a stressful day. Complex, intricate and, in places, heavy enough to satisfy those with a thirst for the more metallic, this is a great album and well worth anybody’s time.
