Search - Quickspace :: Death of Quickspace

More smart people from Matador

08/11/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Quickspace's first record on Matador (the greatest label of the past decade), and it lives up to the musical standard set by other bands affliated with the label. Though not as smart as Pavement or as experimental as Mogwai, Quickspace are a staggeringly unique and enjoyable band.This is basically an album made with typical rock instruments, but the song writing is anything but expected. "They Shoot Horse, Don't They?" and "Climbing A Hill" both drone on for just under ten minutes, and neither have a definite climax. Instruments are added and the male/female vocals become more fevered, but the songs are plateaus - they don't need a highpoint because it's all beautiful. Quickspace are good at being a faceless collective of musicians. The music is strongest when there is no lead vocalist (as in "The Munchers", a song about uniformity and its destructive nature) or the music is instumental. The exception is the opener, "The Lobbalong Song" which features wonderfully distorted female vocals. This is not a particularly groundbreaking album, but these nine songs are enough to tide anyone who is into serious pop music over until the next group of geniuses emerges."

A sonic delight

gfriday | Arlington, VA | 11/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Death of Quickspace is a perfect example of what happens when like-minded people get together and create great - no, really great sounds without relying upon typical popular songwriting/vocal talent. That might seem like a backhanded compliment, but this album's hypnotic qualities have made it one of my most listened-to discs over the last year and a half.
It took some time for me to even discover that one or some of the people behind th' Faith Healers were even still making music, due to a lack of Quickspace-related press here in the U.S. At first, I was put off by the opening track, "Lobbalong Song," but it's agressive rhythm and distorted vocals make a compelling, curious contrast to the two extended, tense numbers that follow (which other reviewers have already described). This album also features instrumental segments or versions of two songs that appear elsewhere ont the LP with vocals, but work well enough on their own to transcend the label "filler". To cap it off, "Gloriana" and "A Rose" strike a great balance of delicate guitar melody and "rock" power.
Despite their apparent simplicity, i'm jealous of this bands command of sonic nuance. Highly recommended!"

Great artwork, even better music

Filmore Jive | St. Louis, MO | 05/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tom Cullinan has done it again! He is not necessarily the greatest songwriter, nor does he necessarily surround himself with the greatest musicians and producers, yet every CD that Quickspace releases refuses to be anything but amazing. This album is more cohesive than Precious Falling (which I also highly recommend- it's longer than this album because it has some filler material in it, though), and retains that album's genuine, raw emotional quality. Give this CD just a couple of spins, and you'll get sucked in. It has mysteriously muddled (yet gorgeous) vocals similar to My Bloody Valentine, and some crisp, interesting guitar work to boot. The artwork is cool, and hints at the beautifully simple music inside. One of 2000's best!"