Stairs to Korea – Small Fractures (E.P. review)

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Fran Panzarola


Stairs to Korea consists of one exceptionally talented young man, Will Vaughan. The eagerly awaited EP ‘Small Fractures’ possesses something that has been absent in pop music for a long time. Playing a multiplicity of instruments, Vaughan has carefully merged fragmented pop chords with synthesised guitar strums to create delicate harmonies. When listening to Small Fractures, it becomes clear why Vaughan himself has received wide critical acclaim from the likes of Steve Lamacq and 6 Music.

To fully comprehend Vaughan’s artistic delicacy, it’s best to begin with the second track on the EP. ‘Paul, is this how you want it?’ begins with an undeniably jolly, 80’s-esque synthesis of happy harmonies. Enlisting the help of delicate guitar strumming, and simple vocals, a track is created which becomes difficult to flaw. Gaining impressive plaudits and immersing into the airwaves of NME and Radio 1, it is obvious that Vaughan is in for some serious success.

Subsequently, the track ‘All of your Friends’ emulates the sheer technique enlisted by Vaughan to generate broken harmonies into elusive, heartfelt and subtle pieces of music. The slightly heavier strumming heard are contrasted with simple lyrics, creating an interesting bridge between a lyrical story created by Vaughan, and a catchy, melodic tune that leaves the listener hooked.

Again, Vaughan regenerates the Pop music genre by coinciding heavy backing beats with faint instrumentals. ‘Guy Fawkes’ is a perfect representation of this; erratic pop synths are elongated to create simple verses, slowly introducing the chorus and regenerating Vaughan’s signature vocals. Ascending into an abyss of fragmented chords, ‘Guy Fawkes’ closes on a gentle set of string harmonies- a solid end to the EP.

With choruses evolving in to broken harmonies that infiltrate Vaughan’s gentle vocals, it becomes clear why Stairs to Korea are not to be ignored. Having previously been signed to Brainlove Records, Small Fractures will be released under his own record label, named ‘Now…No NOW’. It will be available on CD and as a 7” Vinyl, and will be released on July 18th.

RATING: 4/5
BEST TRACK: ‘Paul, is this how you wanted it?’
SOUNDS LIKE: Noah and the Whale, Mystery Jets, The Magic Numbers.

Small Fractures EP by Stairs to Korea, to be released via Now…No NOW on 18 July 2011.

Explosions in the Sky- Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (album)

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Fran Panzarola

IMAGE: BellaUnion.com

WORDS: FRAN PANZAROLA

Now on their sixth album, Explosions In The Sky are delivering what could be marked as one of their most carefully articulated pieces of work to date. ‘Take Care, Take Care, Take Care’ is easily as compelling as their previous albums but pushes the boundaries further in terms of arrangement and emotion. With tracks exceeding way over seven minutes and more, Explosions haven’t left their nuanced skills behind. Offering layers of guitar strumming coated with placid chords, the album encapsulates the stunning work Explosions In The Sky are most famous for.

The album begins with ‘Last Known Surroundings;’ this tracks lays the foundations for the entire album with the instrumental riffs carefully layered over chords from backing guitars emulate the musical precision the band excel in. In contrast, whilst ‘LKS’ is the album’s skeletan ‘Trembling Hands’ acts as an almost fleshy interlude exerting an upbeat tempo, accompanied with vocals- rarely used in previous albums. Although such vocals consist of mostly “Uh oh” refrains, it signifies a shift in the band’s sound. The simple, yet rigid electronic tones are chartered with effortless vocals that play off the rest of the album, offering an eclectic stance in comparison to the delicate soundscape of other tracks present in the album.

What makes the album even more compulsive is how the melancholic undertones  are complimented by and married to a series of swift guitar chords- reminiscent of the bands work on the soundtrack of Friday Night Lights. The distorted echoes of acoustic guitars add a sense of sobriety to the track ‘Be Comfortable, Creature,’ in which slow chords are layered with subtle electronic tones. This track in particular makes is clear why the band fit so well within cinematic soundtracks, namely through their ability to fuse gentle acoustics with broken pauses and bass chords to create an ambience of melancholic bliss for the audience to immerse themselves in. 

The album finishes with what Explosions In The Sky do best; an elongated, dynamic composition- drawing out vast instrumental builds and finishing with gentle guitar chords. ‘Let me Back In’ is full of texture, creating tension between layers of guitar chords which are slowly teased out and resolved by the gentle drums present in the last two minutes of the track. The album begins-and ends as the band mean to go on- furnishing gentle, carefully constructed tracks, loyal to their post-rock background.  

Overall, this is a compelling album that does not fail to disappoint and will be showcased throughout their UK tour in May. Dates include The Big Chill, London, Manchester and Dublin.

RATING: 4/5
BEST TRACK: Last Known Surroundings.
SOUNDS LIKE: Mogwai, If These Trees Could, (Sigur Ross).
Explosions in the Sky release ‘Take care, take care, take care’ on Bella Union Records on 18 April. You can pre-order the album now online.

Let us know what you think of the new album from Explosions by leaving a comment in the field below.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...