Overhead, The Albatross
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Overhead, The Albatross

Dublin, Leinster, Ireland | INDIE

Dublin, Leinster, Ireland | INDIE
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"Album Review: Overhead, The Albatross – Lads with Sticks"

Overhead, The Albatross – Lads with Sticks

The brilliantly titled Lads with Sticks is the brand new EP from Dubliners Overhead, the Albatross. Unleashed with little pomp and no ceremony on bandcamp last week, it’s a masterful post-rock record. Everything about it is clever, from the name to the album cover to the tongue in cheek post-al-service bandcamp labels. Perhaps it’s time someone started the post-review genre of writing? Whatever you want to call it, these are four fantastic instrumental rock tunes.

All the tracks have a full, fat sound; they’re all so well arranged, so beautifully textured, and flow so well. The musicianship is first rate, and there’s riffs galore to be found throughout. Track #2, ‘Forgive Me Not’ is a real highlight, with its bounding melody and collection of superb guitar lines (yes, collection, Overhead the Albatross have no laurels to rest upon).

Everything about this EP seems effortless, but the amount of care and precision gone into it has to have been immense. Take Liam Neeson for example, starting off intense before catching its breath, it then returns to greatness with an intense build-up and a glorious crescendo. Closer ‘Footprints in the Blood Soaked Snow’ is an immaculately layered production, and defies being merely categorised as post-rock. Everything about Overhead, the Albatross is so much more than that.

It’s hard to believe that the band have created something so perfect first time of asking, and a lot of pressure will be on when they follow this up with a full-length on the ElevenEleven label. While you lap up these gorgeous sounds, why not check out the band’s fantastic tumblr blog?

Rating: - Swear I'm not Paul


"Overhead, The Albatross - Lads With Sticks"

Every once in a while, I find a record that fits me perfectly. Last year, that release was MinionTV’s self-titled debut. I can listen to it on repeat for hours on end. In January, I clicked on a Twitter post linking me to Overhead, The Albatross’s Bandcamp page, and there I found ‘Lads With Sticks.’ A quick FLAC download (FiOS is crazy fast here in the Philly ‘burbs) and within minutes I had found my new favorite perfect record.

The songs on ‘Lads With Sticks’ are powerfully melodic, and move seamlessly from quiet to explosive, taking full advantage of guitars, piano, and strings to bridge the numerous transitions that you’ll find throughout this EP. ‘Jonah’ is a perfect opening track, with its gentle introduction and strong build, thanks to the intricate interplay of the layered guitars. ‘Forgive Me Not’ and Footprints in the Blood Soaked Snow’ are incredibly solid rock songs that are both giant and soaring (I would love to hear them in a live setting). And even though it’s only the middle of February, the epic ‘Liam Neeson’ is already on my list of favorite songs of the year. I’m pretty sure I killed the speakers in my rental car this week while cranking the last two minutes of this excellent song. The band is tight and their delivery is solid and confident – definitely one of the reasons that this record leaves you feeling so satisfied when you’re done listening. Overhead, The Albatross ‘Lads With Sticks’ is an outstanding collection of music that will be on repeat play in my office for a long time to come. In my opinion, cinematic post-rock is not dead, or stale, or boring, and this record proves it easily. I can’t wait for more…

Now you need to visit their Bandcamp site and download a FREE copy of the record for your listening pleasure. If you enjoy the music of Pg.Lost, If These Trees Could Talk, MinionTV, Moonlit Sailor, and/or Codes In The Clouds, you will definitely love this record.

- mike@6forty.com


Discography

'Lads With Sticks' (2011) [Free E.P.]

http://overheadthealbatross.bandcamp.com/

Since we put the E.P. up in late January, we have achieved almost 1,000 downloads.

Our songs Liam Neeson, Jonah, Forgive Me Not and Footprints In The Blood Soaked Snow are being played on Phantom this year since we did an interview with them last month.

We've also been featured on several international podcasts including the 6fortyproject from Philadelphia. (http://www.6forty.com/?p=514)

Photos

Bio

We've been a band for over a year now, and in that time, we've accomplished more than a lot of bands in Dublin could hope for. We've played every small, medium and some large venues in the city and plan to tour the UK in the near future. We also signed to the indie label Eleven Eleven who are helping us out with a lot this year.

We came together to see what would happen if you put the six of us in a room together and the result was a big sound. Drawing influence from the likes of Sigur Ros, 65daysofstatic and Mogwai and not necessarily sounding like any of them, means we have a massive range from pop jams to speedy dance numbers, and of course the slow songs. You've got to have a slow song.

Check out the E.P. to see for yourself. It, like everything we record will be released free of charge. We hope you enjoy it. There's more coming soon, we're doing a split 7" with Friend? our label buddies.