Red Sparowes - The Fear Is Excruciating...

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This is the third album from an instrumental post-rock supergroup who's reputation is built on their spralling, wall-of-sound arrangements that eschew the heaviness of parent bands like Pelican and Isis for a more delicate approach. Tracks like Giving Birth To Imagined Saviors and In Every Mind, and The Mutiny to a lesser extent, are a chase scene through a forest with no sound; the complete uncertainty that the horror in pursuit may or may not catch and eviscerate its prey. As Each End Looms And Subsides has a similar feel but would be more suited to a final, shocking scene of madness. For an album so chilled out, The Fear Is Excruciating, But Therein Lies The Answer fits its title perfectly; it can be terrifying. The Swarm and haunting intro Truths Arise are far less urgent, but no less eerie, while Hail of Bombs carries a surprising indie-twang to begin with before launghing into the kind of guitar onslaught the title demands. At around fifteen minutes shorter than either of its predecessors, and song titles of a similarly refreshing brevity, the new record never outstays its welcome and that slight compacting of their ideas makes for an remarkably coherent listening experience, without the slightest threat of wandering attention. Astonishing.

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2010, Albums, Instrumental, Quick.Play Reviews, Red Sparowes