Customer Reviews

Battle of Sealand

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is a large letdown from the EP's released from over the years. It does not define a sound for Airiel within the shoegaze realm. This album consists of songs that sound 'just like Ride' or 'just like MBV' or Swervedriver etc. I saw them live and they were loud and good (hats off to that); but their true identity has slipped past these guys on the last studio entry. I would love to be able to say 'wow that sounds just like Airiel'. If you want to hear Airiel listento their earlier EPs. If you want the real Ride, MBV sound go out and buy the original.

Believe me, I've searched every nook and cranny for the latest and greatest bands of this newly revived era of shoegaze, aptly titled, nugaze. Taken into consideration that my predilection for the shoegaze sound is closer to the fast, energetic, loud and aggressive sound that is very characteristic of this album, influenced by bands such as chapterhouse, ride and swervedriver and less slow-dive and my bloody valentine. This is a fine album with a little bit of everything. I find this album to be compared highly to the much loved EP's the band had previously sequentially released, but in all honesty, this album has enough energy to keep your mind off things. I award this five stars on the basis of the fact that I haven't stopped listening to it since I've boughten it.

While some may long for the days of great shoegaze bands. This is a fresh direction. Full of sonic bliss and great musicianship. Not a beautiful as the singles none the less a solid effort and one of the most listened to albums in 2010 on my stereo. Not as ethereal as in 4ad acts this album has the drive and power that is equal to any 4ad act. I hope to see more from this band in the future. I would like to see live performances I bet they are killer.

It's nice to hear a "RIYL" My Bloody Valentine band that delivers. One of the vocalists has a slightly more ethereal touch to their voice that I prefer. If you think you might be interested in this one you should give it a go.

What an injustice to call this average! It is far above average, and I would call it an outstanding album. I have been a fan of Airiel for some time, but this album has caused me to consider them one of my favorite shoegaze bands. The sound of this album is different from their previous EPs, but it is just as good in a different way. Many of the songs are upbeat and have catchy melodies and harmonies that aren't as drowned out by undecipherable noise as some other shoegaze songs tend to be. The songs all have a different sound, but there is still a slight similarity between them that connects them as any collection of songs in a great album should be. And, while the lyrics aren't the most important part of shoegaze music, their lyrics are very well-written. The skill in the use of meter matching up to the music rivals any other genere or artist.

This experimental group from Chicago delivers a mixture of noise, shoegaze, drone and rock in their first full-length album. Unexpectedly, I'm enjoying some of the vocals, although as usual for me, I'm not really paying attention to the lyrics (the exception to this rule are songs by iLiKETRAiNS), and I find myself humming the melodies days later. The overall sound is pretty dense, laying heavily across the entire frequency spectrum like a silly putty on a comb. Not surprisingly, one of the tracks, Sugar Crystals, features the ethereal treatment of Ulrich Schnauss. Recommended for the likes of My Bloody Valentine, Ride and "all those great British bands". Never thought I dig this genre, but I just keep queuing it up. Favorite tracks: Stay and Peoria

Chicago's AIRIEL have been around for close to ten years now. I recently saw them play at the Beat Kitchen with Ulrich Schnauss, Manual, and Auburn Lull and they mentioned that their first gig was opening up for Auburn Lull in 1996 or '97 (Side note: in a live setting, AIRIEL was better than the other three bands combined). While it's amazing how much music has changed since then, it's somewhat less amazing how consistent this band has been; they are just great.

From their first EP, subsequent EP's and singles, AIRIEL has put out some of the best shoegaze / indie / alternative / whatever in the US. Influenced by Catherine Wheel and all the other obvious shoegaze names, they have oddly escaped any sort of limelight that now surrounds good but less amazing groups like Deerhunter or the Twilight Sad (just go read this album's Pitchfork review - are they deaf mongoloids?...yup!).

Overall, this first full length for them marks a bit of a progression. Ulrich Schnauss appears one one electronica-esque track. Some songs have more of a britpop feel to them, Going Blank Again-style. Others sound like classic Airiel.

If this band plays anywhere around you, make it a point to go see them. I have seen them three times over the past few years and been totally floored each time.