Expansive. Immersive and indeed panoramic. If we are doing nutshell descriptions then that would be it. Dumbsaint are an instrumental four piece from Sydney who create big, big soundscapes of what is known as post rock.
Now “Panoram….” is not a new release. It was written and recorded in 2014 and released the following year as the follow up to “Something that you feel will find its own form” and is being reissued as part of Bird’s Robe’s 10th anniversary shenanigans.
What interests me most is also the source of much frustration whilst reviewing this. Dumbsaint have created a 60 minute feature film companion piece for the album, something they apparently have done before to further illustrate their passion for soundtracks and adding visuals to their sonic art.
It is not included with the CD or with the press release for the album which makes me feel I have got half the intended piece. In the accompanying blurb the film promises “a suburban horror … populated by a revolving ensemble of dysfunctional lovers, loners and shut ins“. My interest is piqued so I have to rely on my imagination whilst I listen to the ten tracks on offer.
This album rolls by – as you would expect for something created to sit atop moving pictures, from the delicate intro of “Low Visions” which is reminiscent of a Scandinoir show opening before launching into a prog metal riffathon instead of gliding over a barren snowdrift to zoom in on a body. There is a modicum of Lateralus era Tool to the guitar sound here, and I say that as someone who doesn’t really dig Maynard and co’s work. Dumbsaint, whilst having proggy elements manage to add in enough big riffs and splashy drums to keep me interested and I think the absence of vocals (especially Maynard’s) certainly allows the music to wash over and infiltrate the old noggin.
Infiltrate it does, but subtly – which is what I look for in post rock and instrumental ones especially. I don’t need them to wow me with musicality (although Dumbsaint do) or dazzle with intricate layers. What I want is something to take me away from this existence for a while and either cloak me in a fuzzy blanket like “Long dissolve/Temps Mort” does at its beginning or pump me full of anxious energy as it does at its midpoint before handing me the comfort back. The two and change minutes of “Graceland” takes me back to early Police mixed with a less washed out shoegaze. Like someone has mixed oil paints in with the pastels.
Talking of anxiety – “Of no Return” made my heart race and chest tighten. I can only imagine what visuals it accompanies. Without realising I found I was replying to messages from friends in a defensive way as my mind raced at the same pace as the drums. “What do they mean? Did I come across as an arse?”. Wow! Be careful what you are doing whilst you listen to this album!
Dumbsaint – it’s not new (well it came out 7 years ago). I can’t hum any tracks afterwards.
It won’t change my life afterwards. It did change my whole body during it. Not many albums can say that. It’s like an electric fence in that regard. An eclectic fence maybe?
(7.5/10 Matt Mason)
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