FACE TO FACE ON HIGH PLACES [Vinyl]

School of Seven Bells | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (September 11, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Table Of The El
• ASIN: B000UGG5EE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #511,790 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a so-so swirly transcendent soundscape collectible, November 12, 2009

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Charlie Quaker "The Quaker Goes Deaf" (Normal, IL.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FACE TO FACE ON HIGH PLACES [Vinyl] (Vinyl)

Pucker up, all you digital babies--this one's a vinyl only release. One-sided, clear, laser-etched, limited edition, collector scum vinyl! I'm not sure what the etching is, but it resembles the kind of warped bird-like avian figure that Tim Burton might draw, and it's cool. S.O.S.B. are getting lots of love from most of the music critics, and their pedigree warrants it. Members include original Secret Machines guitarist Benjamin Curtis, the Deheza twins from On! Air! Library!, electronic wizard James Elliott (who's recorded as Ateleia), and Joe Stickney (drummer for Rhys Chatham). The Brooklyn band's trendy name is taken from a legendary Brazilian cloak 'n' dagger school for thieves. They're on a highly regarded, sophisticated indie label. They've got a guest spot on the new Prefuse 73 album. They have described their songs as being about "hypothetical characters...that exist in dream states". Ah, but what about the music?

This 3-song EP places the title track in between two shorter, and less impressive numbers. "Limb By Limb" and "S.Ada.Light" are both uninspired avant-folk electronica. Light and airy, precariously bouncy, and driven by drum 'n' bass influenced percussion; both songs are led by the sputtering, harmonic, angelic vocals of Alejandra and Claudia Deheza. Combined with wandering electronic baubles and subtle rhythmic drama, they resemble nothing more than a schooled, meager imitation of the CocoRosie "happy-core" movement. "Face To Face On High Places" fares somewhat better. It opens with a mesmerizing jungle drum beat, joined by a rumbling bass line. An oddly soaring guitar enters, and the twins' female voices come in with a hypnotic energy a la early Blonde Redhead. The song builds, bass and drum play with cacophony, but never lose the beat. About 2/3 of the way through the song, Curtis starts to make unnatural noises with his guitar that turn into a repetitive, swelling drone-fest, which slowly fades into the particles of the atmosphere. Overall, it's an effulgent swirl of transcendence, a spellbinding soundscape where unreal voices sparkle in the hazy atmosphere. And , really, it's entirely forgettable. Except, of course, it's pretty to look at.

5.0 out of 5 stars Etheral, March 20, 2011

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RIP - See all my reviews

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This review is from: FACE TO FACE ON HIGH PLACES [Vinyl] (Vinyl)

I discovered the School of Seven Bells while listening to an interview on Public Radio. I'm really happy I was tuned in that day. The sound that these girls produce in harmony is almost otherworldly. My one disappointment is that they have not recorded a good deal more music than they have. This is really hauntingly beautiful music.