Posts Tagged ‘Russian Circles’
Album of the day: Russian Circles – Empros
Posted on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
Lovingly pinched from The Obelisk: For their fourth album, Empros (first directly for Sargent House), the instrumental three-piece Russian Circles returned to producer Brandon Curtis of The Secret Machines, who also helmed 2009’s Geneva.
The reasons why are fairly obvious: What the Chicago outfit was able to accomplish with Geneva was their most formidable blend yet of ambience and post-metallic heft, and for the sheer sounds Curtis was able to capture from guitarist Mike Sullivan, bassist Brian Cook (also ex-Botch / These Arms are Snakes) and drummer Dave Turncrantz, their wanting to recreate at least that element of the Geneva experience is well justified.
That said, Empros and Geneva are different enough albums that, even without vocals as the latest is – except for the psychedelic lullaby closer ‘Praise be Man’ – it becomes clear Russian Circles approached the construction of these songs with something altogether heavier in mind. It’s not so much that their tones have changed, though right from opener ’309′, there’s a lot riding on the sometimes Godfleshy and mechanized feel of Cook’s bass, but the way the material is put together. Where some of Geneva’s ambience was allowed to wander, the six tracks of Empros are less so, so that even when the heaviness breaks into a stretch of indie-infused airy atmospherics, loops and long-ringing tones, there’s a pointedness and direction to them.
Likewise, when Russian Circles do launch into one of the crunching parts through which they’ve helped innovate post-metal instrumentalism, they sound heavier than they ever have. Four albums in, they also know how to make that work to their advantage.
Continue reading: The Obelisk » Blog Archive » Russian Circles, Empros: ORD to AMS
Courtesy of JJ Koczan / The Obelisk
Tags: Album of the day, Brandon Curtis, Brian Cook, Dave Turncrantz, Empros, Mike Sullivan, post rock, Russian Circles, Sargent House, The Obelisk
Posted in 2011, Album of the Day, Roadburn Recommended | No Comments »
Russian Circles Stream New Album via Spin.com
Posted on Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
Chicago trio Russian Circles post via Spin.com a full album stream of their forthcoming release Empros today. Listen to the album in its entirety HERE .
Russian Circles Premiere New Song via Rolling Stone
Posted on Thursday, September 29th, 2011
Chicago trio Russian Circles premiere the first MP3 from their forthcoming new album today via RollingStone.com. The song, Mladek is culled from the band’s fourth full length, Empros which will be available worldwide via Sargent House on October 25th. Listen/download Mladek HERE.
Kink X-Rated Roadburn Radio: 8pm to 11pm CET (Get Ready For The Broadcast of Russian Circles’ Performance at Roadburn 2010)
Posted on Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
Here is our playlist for this week’s Roadburn Radio on Kink X-Rated. Tune in from 8pm to 11pm CET (2pm EST / 11am PST) and listen to the latest sounds from the underground and the bands that inspire us as we work on next year’s Roadburn festival. And get ready ...read more
Roadburn 2010 by Westgeest Photography
Posted on Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
We asked Christiaan Westgeest (Westgeest Photography) to share some of his memories, and finest photos of Roadburn 2010. Here are his choices:
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