My recommendation of the week.
I was asked an interesting question last week. I was asked,
What do you listen to after you leave the therapist?
Kind of an odd question if you don't know me. But I've been seeing a therapist for a long time, and I personally think everyone should go at least once. But that was a great question.
Imagine the feeling of being left alone after you just got into a fight with an ex-girlfriend or boyfriend, or an argument with a parent or authority figure. There is a torrent of emotions that wells up within a human being. One of my favorite things to do is grab my smokes and take a drive. I told my friend...
Well either The Books, Explosions in the Sky, Do Make Say Think... or if i need to angry punch dance probably the first Taking Back Sunday album...
Yes that was my real answer. He then asked me to share with him some of those tunes, but today I am going to be sending him something else -- Antarte from Sicilia. Antarte's album Olio su tela is nothing short of simplistic beauty. Imagine if Seu Jorge had collaborated with Explosions in the Sky, the pianist from Islands and Jonsi from Sigur Ros... it would be incredible and this is as close as it gets.
<a href="http://antarte.bandcamp.com/album/olio-su-tela" data-mce-href="http://antarte.bandcamp.com/album/olio-su-tela">Olio su tela by Antarte</a>
The lyrics are in Italian, so it might be hard to understand, but nothing Google translate can't handle. The melodies are driven by soft acoustics, grinding guitars and a whispery voice. Some of their tracks are all instrumental, like Oceano. It begins softly with the lounge sounds of a classical piano then adds the jazz of an upright bass and a smooth, full-toned, guitar. Near the end of Oceano are nature samplings and a crooning trumpet. It truly takes you all over the globe.
The album as a whole is arranged very well. No two tracks are the same and each one gives a new and different taste. Antarte changes up their styling very well, but still stick to an over-all theme. It's like reading As I Lay Dying (you know the book... not the band), getting into the minds of all the characters. The listener receives different perspectives and each one is refreshing. Yes I am using the word refreshing to describe this band.
My favorite track is Settembre for it's eight and half minutes of crescendo. The song starts off slow, like most their tracks then picks up with tones similar to Minus the Bear, Look Mexico and This Town Needs Guns. What I am most impressed about Antarte is that none of the sounds or mixing takes away from any particular instrument. It is very well engineered just lovely to listen to.
The only down side to this record is that Antarte never really "pick up the pace". Most of their songs find the groove/tempo then camp out there. I'd love to see them really punish their instruments and go crazy. So, here's to hoping that they are not done making music.
I imagine that the next sunny drive I take or return trip from the therapists office I'll be blasting Antarte.
You can download their album for free or you can donate to them. The choice is yours and your alone, but you should donate. I did.
You can check out their Youtube Channel Here
