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Label: ATP Recordings - Rating:
Doing this review opened up my life to a world of Apse … and angst, compassion, sadness, honesty, intensity, maturity, and growth. As a writer for album reviews, I hold to very high esteem the importance of investigating the artist before coming to a conclusion of the work. So, in reviewing Apse’s latest album ‘Climb Up,’ I took it upon myself to do a little research on the band.
Musically active since the beginning of the decade began, Apse has survived a multitude of evolutionary mutations in their continued path to compose. Primarily instrumental in their 2006’s ‘Spirits’ and subsequently followed by a revolving door of new/old band members, to heavy with a voice in their latest album and thus exploring new musical genres, Apse has managed to conquer the many facets that ultimately drive bands to fall apart.
A change in members and sound can often be a devastating blow to artistry, let alone a fan base – but Apse has burned down the house with their electrical fires, and given back to their community by building us a new home twice the size with extra room to breathe - and those extra breaths? We’re going to need them, because Apse has a way of capturing moods defined by their abstract nature, ultimately provoking thought of great depths.
However unique Apse may be, I hear a familiar undertone in each track on ‘Climb Up.’ The band is brooding and ominous throughout the majority of their songs, but each manages to shine the tiniest peep of light on something we’ve heard before. In ‘All Mine,’ the main focus lies less in the music itself and more so on the increasing tension that builds throughout. Then it ends, and you’re thrust into a quiet and subdued instrumental revelation; a trademark of Nine Inch Nails for years.
The ninth track ‘Lie’ holds out on leading by either vocals or instruments, as it is a combination of the two which makes this a reactive song. The musical arrangement is the constantly flowing lazy river guiding the track, but it’s the singing that harnesses us in the tube downstream. The stop-and-go feel, the serenity of fading vocals, the experimental sounds: all reminiscent of Portishead. Who do you hear in the tracks ?
Although Apse seems to draw inspiration from high and low, the mere fact that they are able to do it with such diversity is impressive. ‘Blown Doors’ and ‘3.1’have speedier rhythms than other songs on the album, and ‘Rook’ matches the pace with the addition of oddly placed electronica sound effects. ‘The Age’ has a slight party feel with ecstasy, sensations, and swaying - and ‘The Whip’ adds to that with a heavy and rhythmic bass line. Then there is the entirely instrumental track ‘Tropica,’ which seems rather out of place, but nonetheless invokes feeling.
So, do the research yourself. Listen to Apse, and tell me what you think!
Like Apse? Check Out: A Shoreline Dream, Deerhunter, Enon
