Russian Circles - Station
I’ve got this flatmate called Bill. I love Bill, I really do, but his endless pursuit of really shit music can sometimes be a little trying. Bill listens to shit music. It’s scientific fact. It’s so scientifically factastamagoric that future scientific studies will champion ‘Bill’s Edict’ when challenging the worthiness of particular musical offerings. Blissfully unaware of ‘Bill’s Edict’, Bill will go to extraordinary lengths to champion music which is unmistakeably shit.
A favourite ploy of his, when convincing you that a band isn’t quite as shit as you make out, is comparing them with a myriad of bands he knows you’ll like. “Seriously Simon, you’ll really like this band. They’re like Tool, but mixed with The pAper Chase with a little bit of Atmosphere and Justice thrown in for good measure”. Now, such a band doesn’t exist, and if they did they would easily be the greatest band ever. That, or Bill would like them, which would instantly make them….you know where I’m heading with this.
So, despite my scepticism towards people trying to sell me bands that sounds like one or more of favourites, I am forever indebted to my friend ‘sexay’ for introducing me to ‘Russian Circles’ through a complex combination of appealing to my vanity, my love of ‘Tool’ and ‘Explosions in the Sky’ and mojitos.
‘Russian Circles’ are one of those bands, which you just can’t place. ‘Proggy’ and brutish in parts like an early ‘Tool’. Wonderfully beautiful and lucid like ‘Explosions in the Sky’ at their very best. ‘Station’ is not so much an album, but a ‘piece of art’ wonderfully divided into 6 independent, yet strangely connected parts.
My one real complaint about this album stems from the arrangement of the songs. At times you feel as if you are being whisked away on a musical rollercoaster. Up down then up again. ‘Campaign’ offers dulcet harmonies before being dragged kicking and screaming with heavier songs like ‘Harper Lewis’ and ‘Station’. I’d prefer to take a slightly more cohesive ride. One with a beginning, a middle and an end. I don’t buy the complaints about the album requiring vocals. It doesn’t. For me, ‘Station’ lacks structure, but by no means does it desperately need it.
Note for reader: Bill doesn't like this album. If we are to follow 'Bill's Edict', this should be proof enough for you to buy it.
For more information on Russian Circles visit: www.myspace.com/russiancircles
For more information on Bill visit: www.myspace.com/bognorbill