Customer Reviews

The Sea and the Bells

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is my favorite album by Rachel's.

The only part I dislike is the pause and churning noise as my discman readies itself to repeat the whole thing.

"Rhine & Courtesan" is my favorite track. In it, emotionally charged stretches of music fade into quiet; with nothing but the sounds of sailboats.

The use of volume is very important. The lapses into quiet encourage the listener to think of the record as a whole instead of a collection of tracks; to submerge her or himself into the brilliant, quirky world that narrates without words.

The album is seamlessly put together. Each musician gives a peak performance, no shortcomings rupture the beautiful feel that it creates.

I agree with the bands other viewers have referenced especially Tristeza, and also find this akin to Bright's quieter tracks.

A Side Note:

Also, check out one disc by ShiFt (not shift, nor Shift). Otherwise a terrible hardrock band, ShiFt put out one EP "A Folding Sieve", that starts of with a song "Rolling."

This is a great accomplishment for this band. Though "Handwriting" had some good moments, this CD really proves that Rachel's have a lot of talent. Whereas their first was very simple (and sometimes out of tune), this release incorporates elements of Gorecki, as well as the chiming vibraphone of Steve Reich's "Music For 18 Musicians", the arpeggios of Michael Nyman's soundtrack to "the Piano", as well as some neat early Hafler Trio sounding collage elements. There are also kit-drums to give it rock affiliations. This is a very interesting blend reminiscent of minimalist classical as well as 4AD bands simultaneously. A must for eclectic, emotional, and somewhat ethereal tastes.

After hearing Music For Egon Shiele, I knew I had to get this album but I had no idea that it would be so incredible. This cd takes you on a surreal journey to places you never thought you were capable of dreaming of. It's uplifting and tragic all at the same time. The exquisite sounds of bells and ships captures your soul so that you really feel as if you were there. I don't know how else to describe it, it just makes you want to float away.

This is one of my most favorite rainy day albums of all time. And I live in Seattle, so there is quite a few of them. Equipped with this and other Rachel's CDs, a good book, and a huge cup of coffee all I have to say is, Bring it on La Niña! Some songs have a sound that is the audio equivalent of a mouth full of angle food cake, walking around a moldy, wet, raining garden with PJ Harvey. I really don't have anything to back that up, its just what comes to mind when I listen to this CD. I think that's the ultimate beauty of lyricless music - you can interpret it for your self. "His Eyes" has got to be one of the most beautiful tracks I have ever heard. Those eyes must be very impressive.

This is high-class music. All instrumental with much to do with strings, piano and traditional orchestration. To ad contemporary urgency and strength, you hear drums, keyborards and guitar.

This is not a washed-out, new agey, meaningless patches of sound. This is very thought-out, intellectual and experimental.

This is extremely atmospheric and textured.

Gothic and beautifull.

At times "minimalist" in its compositional approach.

Good Stuff.

this is a good example of what happens when indie rock kids get bored and have access to an orchestra. avant garde classical, which is a lot more beautiful than it is avant garde. jason noble of rodan fame orchestrates a darkly beautiful piece of music that enchants and transports the listener. this piece is best digested late at night alone and with a collection of neruda poems at your side. not for the faint of heart but recommended for the broken hearted.

it's the sound of unfurling sails made by bed clothes, or the creaking of the ship's hold, where dishes rattle and waves reach across the bow, or the screeching of sirens across a ragged sea...this is so beautiful and inventive and the most wonderful aspect is one's complete immersion in it all-it is only later that one thinks logically about it. and by then it is irrelevant-you want to get back on board.

classical music should get this CD. Any classical music listener should get this CD. This album puts the energy of indie music into a classical context without alot of high mindedness that modern composers are burdened with and therefore making the music inaccessible to a outsider's ear. This CD can be a bridge between the classical world and the indie pop world. I believe that Rachel's is a very important band for our times and for the evolution of indie and classical music...

This is really a very good piece of music.At least it is very different from some famous post-rock bands that sound almost the same.I just don't find it how they belong to post-rock and why this group is recommended along with MOGWAI,EXPLOSION IN THE SKY or GODSPEED YOUR BLACK EMPEROR.The only band that I see some similarity in musical and stylistical approach is THE PENGUIN CAFE ORCHESTRA.Nevertheless,buy it!

strange fact for you:
this is the best album of the last 25 years. period. there is no other group of musicians that can put you inside images like rachel's can. utilizing timpani, piano, violin, cello, even fireworks these guys/gals mastery is obvious from the opening of rhine and courtesan.(they even imitate the sound of a ship rocking back and forth, back and forth amongst the waves. too beautiful for words. every person i've shown this album to fell in love with it. my mom even loves them, though she prefers "music for egon schiele". but that's immaterial. buy it. or get someone else to buy it and copy it from them. just get it.