Solidarity

Tone | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 24, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Neurot Recordings
• ASIN: B000BEZP4G
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,252 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Unwilling

2. Moonpony

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shimmering western/surfer/whatever post-rock..., June 4, 2008

By 

A Pilgrim (San Jose, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Solidarity (Audio CD)

This is a band that reminds me a great deal of Explosions in the Sky, some their tracks even evoke images of a scorched Texan landscape, nevertheless, both bands still sound very different.

This is a band that, to a limited degree, follows the quiet/loud climatic formula bands like EITS or Mogwai practice, but it never sounds cliche or tired. In some ways Solidarity also reminds me of the aural landscapes that the Friends of Dean Martinez have composed, which are more interested in exploration and a western/retro atmosphere. This especially the case when Tone bring the high reverb guitar effects in force, which best heard in tracks like "Texas" and "Sketch."

Their wonderful opening track "Confidence and progress" which begins with an atonal, sinister and simply plucked guitar melody. Instead of taking five or ten minutes to build up a climax, an army of guitars and drums kick in at the one minute mark envelope, strengthen, and develop that sinister yet strangely beautiful atonal melody. At another minute and a half melody carries on, but becomes more quiet, slowly building up to another climax; kind of like valley/peak/valley/peak.

This valley/peak/valley/peak/ad infintium schema tends recur throughout the album, which is actually interesting since many post-rock bands usually adhere to one valley and one peak and thats it. Tone seems to like the process of not only building climatic scenarios, but also like to emphasize various elements of a song though the repetition and development of a melody.

Thankfully, Tone is not always that predictable, so these melodic developments can change course in direction you might not have anticipated. For example, in their song "The Unwilling," the last portion of this twelve minute whopper turns into high reverb western love fest, complete with a marching drum beat, which again, reminds me of EITS.

Their shortest song "Sketch," is belted out in way that reminds me of old school surfer rock in clipped, frenzied, and thunderous manner.

Moonpony is easily my favorite song on this album. They begin with what sounds like muted guitar strings or some type of clappity percussive device, and then go straight into a wicked sludgy high reverb melody that be awesome to listen to while surfing through barrel of some tropical ocean wave.

Whether Tone may beat old post-rock favorites like Explosions in the Sky or Mogwai is besides the point. While Tone may sound similar, they certainly have a sophisticated understanding of aesthetics (i.e. beauty); and their less than predictable western/surfer approach to a genre that is quickly becoming worn out is appreciated. These musicians deserve a healthy dose of respect, do them a favor and check out this album.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great album by this longtime DC act, August 10, 2007

By 

Daniel Segall "Dan" (Northern, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Solidarity (Audio CD)

I was introduced to Tone by a friend/former coworker who is one of the guitarists. While this may make some think my review would be biased, it's actually the complete opposite. I am even more critical of the music because of this.

Tone is a unique band to say the least. They are a an all-instrumental group consisting of 2 drummers, a bassist, and 5 (!!!!) guitarists. The result is an impressive wall of sound. The depth that is provided by the layers and layers of guitars is amazing. Most of the songs start "slow", and build with a steady progression, until finally exploding. While the style of some of the tracks isn't really my thing, I thoroughly enjoy this album more so on every listen than the last.