The Rock Blogger

Red Sparowes. Aphorisms EP. 2008. 4 stars.

The latest EP from Red Sparowes is not only a fine step forward for the band, but its also one of the most solid post-rock releases of the year. Taking the Isis-meets-math rock approach even further, Aphorisms has all the shimmering tones you would expect from a modern post-rock album yet the rhythmic quality and metal influence here distinguishes their melodies from the rest of the pack.

The three instrumental tracks here are far more streamlined than those on previous albums, as Red Sparowes trims away the drawn out intros, crescendos and sound effects to keep the focus on tight song craft. This new found cohesion gives their work a more refined sense of urgency and is just more listenable overall.

Even after this progression though, its still difficult to break away from the general formulas shaping this genre - you’d be hard-pressed to identify a Red Sprarowes song played between those of say Pelican or Russian Circles. But the band are moving forward, so in consideration of where they have been and where they are going, Aphorisms is definitely worth checking out. Whether you want to rock out to something celestial or just want to veg out to some stoner jams, this EP should provide the right type of experience.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 at 8:53 am and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.