This album is very much like the graph of y=x squared (maths fans rejoice). It starts out strongly with 'I Am Connecting Flight' and '17'. They are both quite harsh, combining screaming with a 'My Bloody Valentine'-esque wall of sound.
Then there is a gradual decline until we get to the total shoegazing action of 'Team Radar'. We are in major 'Slowdive' territory here. It's okay (ish, at best) but you can't help craving an album entirely consisting of songs like the first two.
Luckily, things start to pick up again after this with the soaring vocals of 'FiveFour', informing the listener that the worst is over. I always breathe a sigh of relief when I get to this point in the album.
The quality continues to improve, but it is difficult to be prepared for the sheer brilliance of the final track, 'Audition'. It starts gently with a repeated phrase and gradually builds to be an intense... noise? Think of the 'instrumental break' in 'You Made Me Realise' by the aforementioned 'My Bloody Valentine' and then make it even more excessive. It still won't be close to the ending of 'Audition'. Turned up to full blast it's amazing how emotional the whole experience is. It's definitely vying for song of the year, even at this early stage.
With this album, if you learn to take the rough with the smooth, you are rewarded with a satisfying listening experience overall. 'Audition' is made better by the somewhat arduous journey needed to reach it. (The Mars Volta fans will know this feeling all too well.) Definitely recommended.
evlkeith
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