2009-6-25 13:05
luxuries
[Italy]Pertego - Hjarta[Experimental/Visual/Post-Rock]
[img]http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1847/pertegohjarta2009.jpg[/img]
Artist: Pertego
Album: Hjarta
Release: 2009
Genre: Experimental / Visual / Post-Rock
Label: Collapsed Records
Country: Italy
Web: [url=http://www.pertego.it/]http://www.pertego.it/[/url]
Myspace:[url=www.myspace.com/pertego]www.myspace.com/pertego[/url]
The first thing that struck me about Pertegò was the triplets on the ride cymbal when I listened to “Summer Night Games” on their Myspace page. I have become accustomed to listening to post-rock accompanied by pretty regular and ungarnished quarter notes or drawn out snare rolls, which, to speak frankly, bore the hell out of me. This Italian quartet is different - songs are consistently in 4, but often have a very 3 feel to them that is engaging on a visceral level as well as an intellectual one.
Overall, Pertegò seems to to have an almost prog-like approach to music, in that the emotional and even ethereal effect of any given song is not the result of soundscaping or focus on texture, but on fundamental songwriting elements like melody and rhythm, and a clear investment in making sure that parts are more than just parts, but cohesive relatives to each other. These, especially the latter, are things that many artists in all genera of music seem to be less conscious off in the current era, an era in which technology excuses mistakes or shortcomings on the part of this or that band member. To be confronted with a set of musicians who are so aware of their roles as composers and who are so competent as both writers and players is a rejuvenating experience.
The album itself (Hjarta, which means “heart” in Icelandic) opens in a way which highlights the other element of Pertegò’s sound which I find most poignant: the quiet, Sigur Ròs-like effect created by their combination of orchestral sounds, traditional rock instrumentation, and sometimes wordless vocals. Not every track is standout - “Bideri” starts out like any old Explosions in the Sky rip-off before redeeming itself with some nice violin flourishes and a snare/piano outro, while “e/pallatio” has some melodic elements that I might have understood better on an At the Drive-In record. Still, solid is the name of the game with this group, particularly in terms of vocals, which add a great deal of color and shape to the songs, gliding above and weaving with one another like strands of smoke over a fire.
If anything is missing from this album, it is perhaps some sort of unifying principle. “Dance?” begins as a dark, brooding piece quite distinct from the decidedly light opener/title-track, and stands in awkward opposition to the almost generic “Bideri”. On the other hand, it fits quite nicely with “Dova”, which comes right beforehand; though the moods of the two tracks are very different, the quality and timing of vocals links them and makes it feel like these two pieces belong on the same record together.
There is no denying that Hjarta is a record marked by quality. Even when the band seems like they’ve worn out their muse and resorted to mimicry, the music takes unexpected yet delightfully appropriate turns that jostle the listener out of complacency. Though there is room for improvement, Pertegò has set the bar admirably high with this release.
1. Hjarta
2. Bideri
3. E/Pallatio
4. Summer Night Games
5. Dova
6. Dance?
7. Vigo
8. Bideri Evo FF
Download:[url=http://www.rayfile.com/zh-cn/files/c9529275-60a4-11de-96d3-0019d11a795f/]http://www.rayfile.com/zh-cn/files/c9529275-60a4-11de-96d3-0019d11a795f/[/url]
2009-6-26 15:14
jinlingchu
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