Search - Laura :: Radio Swan Is Down

Intricate, original post-rock that will totally blow you awa

M. Goodman | Portland, OR | 10/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Laura is an Australian band that plays their own style of "post-rock": instrumental rock music employing a variety of instruments, including guitars, synths, strings, and sampled/filtered vocals. Unlike many of their contemporaries, which tend towards lumbering, atmospheric, ponderous instrumentals, Laura's style tends to be more active and lyrical, with melodic guitar lines driving the songs. They're kind of like a mix between late Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Explosions in the Sky, with some interesting additions, such as a taste for dissonance, boomy bass/drum hits, and active bass lines.



If you're searching for one track to decide whether or not to buy this album, check out "I Hope" or "Another Near Miss". Listen to it all the way through to get an idea of the progression and structure of the music.



(By the way, there are no explicit lyrics on this album -- most tracks are instrumentals -- the explicit tag is probably because of the track #7 title.)



I first discovered Laura with "Numbers Stations", a gorgeous, solid post-rock piece with a catchy winding guitar riff, massive bass, and nicely balanced strings. This track piqued my curiosity in the band, which began a summer infatuation: I downloaded Radio Swan Is Down and found one of the best albums I've heard this year. It's a quality, diverse collection of tracks with a cohesive style. "I Hope", "Numbers Stations", and "Is There No Help For The Widow's Son?" are all stand out tracks. The melodies will stick with you and play in your head for weeks.



After such a well-done album, "Another Near Miss" is a crown jewel. It combines the beautiful guitar patterns, boomy rock-outs, and moody orchestral arrangements of the entire album in an extremely satisfying conclusion. I won't waste words describing it here -- I'll just leave it for you to discover -- but it stands tall in my mind with Sigur Ros's "Popplagid" as one of the best closing tracks ever.



I highly recommend Laura to fans of bands like Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sigur Ros, and Explosions in the sky. Post-rock fans will find a new and fresh sound with influences from the best of the genre. New listeners will discover a catchy, artistic, and versatile instrumental rock band. Keep an eye on these guys. They're on fire."