Great but beware TAL fans: really only an EP
Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 07/03/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ever I saw The Album Leaf in concert open for Sigur Ros a few years ago, I've been mesmorised by the band's sound. (In studio, this is Jimmy LaValle by himself.) This CD (some might call it an EP) is the follow-up to their great 2001 album "One Day I'll Be on Time".This split CD (with a band called On!Air!Library) contains 3 new TAL songs (17 min.) of the same dream-like instrumental music found on "One Day". Track 2 "Essex" is reminiscent of/musically the sequel to "Audio Pool" from "One Day", and the best track. Track 3 "Lamplight" (7+ min) is very reflective, and works quite well.I'm not sure why TAL chose (or was required) to issue this split CD with On!Air!Library (which songs are not up to par with TAL), but nevermind. Until we get a proper follow-up full-fletched album to "One Day", this will do."
Wonderful
christopher worland | Lexington, KY USA | 04/28/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I already knew about the Ablum Leaf and love everything he has done. The music gets to the heart of the matter without any words. The first 3 songs on this split will certainly please anyone. Beautiful and wonderful compositions. The second part of the split with On!Air!Library! is a really good introduction into the sound of that band. They are a little bit more experimental with sounds and structure than the Album Leaf. The overall sound of the split cd is wonderful. It is definetly something that will be in constant rotation for me."
Hungry for scraps?
IRate | 12/19/2008
(2 out of 5 stars)
"TAL make pretty, sometimes predicable music that certainly has its introspective moments though rarely warrants close examination. Whatever moderate, ever so brief success they achieve here really feels offset by an awkward splitting with the clunky beat driven and experimentally musty ambiance of an irrelevant On Air Library."