oops never knew this was updated :o:.
Well, I'm in anyways.

Do you actually get pills with the music? :)

I've been meaning to check something out by these guys anyway.

With the continuous use of acoustic guitar and lots of atmospherics, Mice Parades Obrigado Saudade will be a very useful headphone album for those that enjoy textured music to be generally layered with some complexity.

Opening track Two, Three, Fall leads the way with the guitars beautifully played and non intrusive beats with a female vocal whispering along.

At 10 minutes long, Mystery Brethren, cruises along with the same formula and with what sounds like xylophone and keys adding soft texture.

Focus On The Roller Coaster gives strummed acoustic guitar and vocals and is to my ears what sound like a song that Calaxico could have made if they met Aphex Twin.

And Still It Sits In Front Of You presents the acoustic Guitar with a nice central American feel and with some less than intrusive vocals, the beat is steady. What sounds like a Chinese Dulcimer weaves in occasionally and adds to the feel that there are some exotic influences generally stirring in Mice Parade.

Wave Greeting is an electronica track that may be popular with IDM fans. The strummed Acoustic Guitar gives the song an organic feel.

Here Today adds more exotic sounding eastern influences into a song that has male and female vocal harmonies that have a 60’s feel. As usual the acoustic guitar makes its presence felt with some intricate playing.

Milton Road gives as another mix of Central American style guitar and blended atmospherics with the beat at pace.

A short piece called Spain has the female vocals along side the beautiful guitar work with no other instrumentation.

Out Of The Freedom World is heavily minimalist with strong percussion beats though to me is clearly Eno influenced, despite the beat, and also has a Dubstep feel circa Burial. The stringed instruments are arranged beautifully. A thoroughly enjoyable song.

Guitars For Plants begins with another Eno inspired ambient passage. It is hard not be impressed with the textures of this song. It is another oddly lush but gentle song with the guitar in the back ground as we are treated to no melody but just rich soundscapes.

Last we have Refrain Tomorrow. This less than 2 minute track ends with a melody restored and an almost jazzy feel. A nice end.

I enjoy this style of atmospherics generally. I gave this album seven plays before writing the revue. The previous album we reviewed on this thread got 4 plays. A good sign for me that it has hit my listening spot. This style of album, heavy reliance on atmospherics as opposed to melody, are never going to be killer recordings that have superlatives thrown at them. Be that as it may when put together well they have a sonic beauty that is for me hard to resist in the right atmosphere. Headphones are the key for me. The subtle nuances are easier to hear and appreciate. A fine album and I will be looking to try a bit more of Mice Parade in the future

I think 4ZZZ articulated my thoughts on the album quite well, but I came away from it with a much less positive stance because it isn't really my style.

I would call it a nice album, some of the arrangements are quite pretty, and it definitely works well as a cohesive whole, crafting continuous atmosphere throughout.

But for me, a lot of the time it really strayed too close to easy listening ambience, pleasant but there wasn't much that really engaged me. Similarly, the stylistic unity of the songs makes them bleed together and I'm left with a bunch of vague impressions and no real concrete memories of the album. Which I suppose might be the aim of some ambient music, but it doesn't appeal to me.

Additionally, the vocals on the album are very poor, just prominent enough to snag my attention, but ultimately unsatisfying. Two, Three, Fall is a perfect example, the acoustic guitar is good but the vocals are far too faint and breathy.

Maybe I'm just being a lazy listener, because as 4ZZZ said, there is a lot of complex layered arrangements which I'm only taking at face value. If I sat down with a good pair of headphones and gave it my full attention to catch all the nuances it might start to grow on me. But as it is, I don't think I'm going to give it the chance.

JH mind if I catch up with the first album? Flaming Tsunamis were the high point of that ska mix you did time ago, I promise a review!

Just for you :D

Obrigado Siudade One Word Review: A harmless blend of post-rock and electronica a-la mum and Zero 7 that makes for a boring active listening session but sounds perfect as background music. 6.7/10

http://d.imagehost.org/0999/tft_fe.jpg

wot moleculz fort of jackhammuz furst album

If you had approached me a few years ago and said ''you're going to come into possession of an album that combines hardcore/metal (I am told this is known as metalcore) and ska with dashes of sea shanty and klezmer'' I should have swiftly struck you with my dueling glove.

But it's 2009 and my honour remains intact, because not only do Flaming Tsunamis combine these disparate sounds successfully (principally one after the other in the manner of Mr. Bungle, but with more pirates), they put a refreshing twist on the relentless screaming angst of 10,000 North American hardcore bands.

'Fear Everything' delivers horns and odd time signatures where previously there was factory-line white suburban yawndom. Lyrically as far as I can gather it's standard anti-authority stuff, you get the feeling that the Tsunamis have a bone to pick with the ritalin-prescribing doctors and parents that, until this album, had kept their blast-beating tendencies in check.

If you're one of those strange people that doesn't enjoy any metal or hardcore punk EVER then this album won't change your mind; if you're a devotee I'd imagine it's pretty much essential. It definitely sticks out like a sore thumb next to all my other progressive albums, take that Byzantium!

Song to check: Bird Watching and Vice Versa ('that's the single!')

mulleculz scaw: Anywhere between 7 and 8.5/10, depending on disposition

Some interesting views on Mice Parade. I personally have'nt even looked at the album as having elements of Post Rock at all and I guess I forget that some people are not big on atmospheric/chillout material. There is a definite lack of hooks but I think it's a fantastic album and the guitar work is definitely unusual.