This album is probably the album Radiohead never wrote, and I don’t mean that in a good way. It’s the one the lurks between “OK Computer†and “Kid A†which is enough to put most people off, just think of that really fragile sounding music with whiney but dainty vocals pitter – pattering over the top… meet The Umbrella Sequence.
In fact after a while, this CD does develop a certain level of interest. I don’t know whether or not that’s a “will this band ever change their style on this CD?†or if it’s “is this going to be the same in the next track?†but whatever it is, I’ve listen to it all the way through. And found no real answer to either question. Just that The Umbrella Sequence are not really my thing, I doubt they are many of the “Punktastic people’s†kind of thing either. They cross moog with keyboards and throw in some synths, and then add the odd guitar strum, but a bass line somewhere in the middle, get a drummer to keep time, and then whisper poetry over the top. Although that sounds extremely sarcastic, it’s certainly not intended, because this is definitely well constructed, it’s excellently executed and believe me the musicianship is first rate. Some of the tracks clock in at over 5 minutes long, some barely cross a minute. It was an interesting 53 minutes of my life listening to this album but whether or not it’s ever going to interest many more people is a different question.
There are 12 tracks here, for you to either like or seriously dislike. I’m still lingering in between, although it must be said, I don’t think I have the patience to listen to this record to get in to it enough, which is defiantly what you need. If sing a long choruses and catchy melodies are your thing, don’t go for this album, but if you fancy some soul seeking atmospheric noise, give it a whirl.
Pete
www.theumbrellasequence.com