The Clouds Will Clear are a four-piece post-rock instrumental band from Frankfurt, Germany, and Recollection Of What Never Was is their first full-length album. In 2014 they had released a self-titled EP.

The overall impression, after having listened to the album quite a few times, is one of mellow post rock, with a bit of electronica here and there. However, there are elements that challenge that categorization, that are less mellow, and that’s a good thing, otherwise this would just be too bland. See, I like character. Recollection Of What Never Was provides some, but not much. I do like the album title. It points towards a tendency of overthinking things. That’s certainly a very post activity.

The album has five tracks, four of which have a similar structure, at least in the beginning. They start out rather quiet and soft and then get heavier. The transition from mellow to heavy is always accomplished in the same way: by the introduction of a heavy guitar riff. I would wish for some variation here.

It’s not all uniform, though. Among the more interesting tracks is Attack Warning. Rather undramatic music is combined with a recording of an US attack warning message. This creates an interesting contrast, especially since the message lacks precise information and gets ever more distorted as the track proceeds. Attack Warning successfully evokes a scary and dystopian atmosphere with minimalistic means.

Recollection, featuring somewhat blackened post rock, is also worth checking out, especially the video to the track. It has simple, but good visuals and does the track a real service, because it provides substance and change.

The best piece of music on the album, however, is the last track, Deep Sea Mining. It has the most interesting soundscape and more variation than the rest of the material on the album. But again, other bands have been here and have done a more impressive job.

Solid for a first album, certainly not bad, but really nothing ground-breaking or exceptional in the ever-growing universe of post rock. Needs more character, an edge and depth.

(6/10 Slavica)

https://www.facebook.com/thecloudswillclearmusic

https://thecloudswillclear.bandcamp.com/album/recollection-of-what-never-was-2