Asva – Futurists Against The Ocean
Asva – Futurists Against The Ocean
(Web Of Mimicry)
Upon receiving Asva’s “Futurists Against the Ocean’, I must admit my interest was peaked. With comparisons to Mogwai and God Speed You Black Emperor (even borrowing the minimalist cardboard packaging), I figured I was in for an epic record still grasping on to what some say is a now passé genre.
The attached press release labels the record as ‘drone rock’, whatever that’s worth. However, the sounds of Asva are in no way relative to the A-list bands they compare themselves to. Although the album plays out in long, barren soundscapes, there is an entire lack of melody, which is what separates Asva from other popular instrumental acts. This album seems to be geared more towards fans of darker, harder music.
The album begins with ‘Kill the Dog, Tie Them Up, Then Take the Money’, sounding exactly as the title suggests with a thick, distorted bass line and smashing drums. Something more comparable to the dark sounds of Type O Negative then the more uplifting GSYBE. Where other instrumentals crawl towards a climax, and seem to tell a story of sorts along the way, Asva seems to be stuck in a repetitive dark loop, never really building to anything different from where it started. The album continues on in the same fashion across four tracks, adding up to just over fifty minutes of depressing ‘drone rock’.
Where Mogwai brings images of denim jeans and Buffalo’s stampeding through large cities, Asva reminds me of a kid in a trench coat playing Doom circa 1996. The music is not horrible, It’s just not what it says it is. It’s a matter of a misplaced label comparing to completely different styles of music simply because they’re both long and instrumental. — Jay C.
Comments (7)
Wow this guy really listened…it completely changes about 20 minutes in with the edition of vocals, and a complete textural change.Too bad he didn’t last for the reward…keep Him away from a ligeti concert…!
Posted by Gary Indiana on June 3rd, 2005Well I don’t know about you but if a song can’t hold my interest for the first 15 minutes I don’t think I’m going to keep listening.
Posted by Sean on June 4th, 2005Actually i did listen that far in, and the vocals were even more off the mark for what i was expecting to hear based on the press release. And i wouldn’t say it COMPLETELY changes. But you are correct that i didn’t give it the attention that someone else may have, but that’s what happens when you don’t really like something.
Anyways, as i said, I didn’t think this album was bad, just wasn’t really my taste.
Posted by JAY C. on June 4th, 2005This isn’t a poorly written review! I’d have liked Jay C. to get through the recording though, so his talents would have left me with a grin on my puss. The record isn’t for everyone though and realizing this make the two or three reviews that panned us acceptable. Also couldn’t agree more with the Mogwai comments, two very different animals… I should have proof read the press sheet a bit more closely, put more emphasis on my old bands, a better juxtaposition as Asva is rolling in melody by comparison.
Posted by bootsykronos on June 7th, 2005This review opens with a remarkable double misusage. Not only does the author write “peaked” when they mean to use “piqued”, but the word “pique” has a generally negative connotation associated with irritation or resentment. Which maybe the writer’s state at the conclusion of this review, but it is not what was implied about their initial feelings towards the material.
Sgt. Syntax
Internet Grammar Police
Also, the record is in fact quite good.
Posted by sgt. syntax on June 16th, 2005uh oh, Sgt Syntax is gonna have a field day with my reviews if he ever gets around to them
Posted by Goon on June 16th, 2005WOW
Posted by B.R.A.D. on June 29th, 2005Leave a Reply