De La Mancha – Atlas [Album]

Crying Bob Records

July 25, 2009, 07:40 PM

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Before listening to their album “Atlas”, I imagined (Swedish) De La Mancha would sound like (Icelandic) Sigur Rós: other-worldly, probably instrumental, post-rock. The artwork reinforces this and makes me want to write 'glacial' before even hearing a note. Now 'glacial' might not be out of place in describing the music but overall the sound is epic, wide-screen indie-rock closer to say Doves or Spritualized. The latter reference is given more weight by song titles like “Superstoned” and “So Let's Blow Up Our Heads and Leave”.

Of the nine songs on this album, six clock in at over 7 minutes; none of them are in a rush to be out of your way. Whilst there may be a familiarity to the template (moody, slow-build intro - mid-tempo drums - then layers of crashing guitars) there is a freshness to the delivery, a touch of experimentation and a variety across the songs that makes the whole sound never ponderous, often joyous. Even the songs that tend to gloomy introspection (the vocal on “Lotus Seven” recalls Bends-era Thom Yorke) have something, a chime or a chord, that uplifts.

All in all, a surprisingly satisfying listen that manages to weave that (whisper it) glacially crisp Swedish production with superior Brit-friendly indie-rock, and is certainly deserving of a wider audience.

Track-listing:
1. Newfoundland
2. Release all light
3. Lotus seven
4. And rainy days
5. The kimono
6. Superstoned
7. So let's blow up our heads and leave
8. Being a hero is easy
9. Sleep

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