Customer Reviews

Story in White

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

 

 

piercing bolts of quasi-metal and foggy whisps of electronica mark this affecting work of ex-ganger's craig b. The dichotomy of craig's brutally earnest, hopelessly vulnerable lyrics and swiftly moving currents of noise dovetail surprisingly well (this modus operendi would never work for someone like morrisey). While plenty of bands dip their toes in the waters of loud/soft dynamics, aereogramme's quiet sections are flecked with such genuine, gentle melody and their volume is so clearly not merely for loudness' sake that they immedietely distance themselves from those bands of a similar mindset. poignant, affecting, and reflective. scotland is the musical center of the universe, and aereogramme one reason why.

I was a huge fan of Ganger, the exceptionally underrated Scottish post-rock beast, and was patiently looking forward to this release, for if it even captured a small part of Craig B's work in Ganger, it would be worth it. I have to admit that this album has floored me in the few weeks that I've had it, but not in the same way Ganger did. The absence of that band's coiling rhythm section means that the songs are driven more by lyrics and melody rather than constricting the rhythms to the breaking point, and while that was Ganger's major strength, Aereogramme has easily made up for it with its approach.

Effectively, the juxtaposition of ornate beauty and terrifying noise that Mogwai capitalizes on is used to great effect here, but it is combined with more slightly more straightforward song structures, the "rock" songs reminding slightly of mid-period Hum. The songs aren't verse-chorus-verse, but lyrics dominate the album, so it's hard to call them a fully traditional post rock band. Also, Craig B's lyrics are quite interesting, largely discussing faith and the ambiguous loss of it.

The shredding guitar and hardcore screaming that mark the spine-tingling moments of "Post Tour, Pre Judgment" and "Zionist Timing" are mirrored by gentle piano, subtle guitar flows, and Craig B's soft, likeable voice. Few bands can write melancholic slower songs as well as they write downright rock songs, and this is Aereogramme's major strength. The poignancy of "Motion" and "Hatred" are not to be underestimated, and the coupling in several songs of this style with the serrating edge of overdriven guitars comes to fruition in "The Question is Complete" and several others.

This is a fantastic album. It doesn't feel overwhelming in terms of the experimentalism, since most of the songs have the buoy of tradition lyrics, and it never falls into any ruts. The three extra tracks on the US version are all tremendous as well. All in all, a well deserved five stars.

This album is so intense and subtle all at once. This is my favorite album right now and I have to say may be one of the most important albms to come across Indy rock in a long time. Every dynamic can be heard in A Story In White. I would say that Aereogramme is a cross between Refused, Flaming Lips, and maybe some early 90's indy rock. You have to hear this to believe it! Buy it!

Somehow it didn`t surprise me at all when i found out that Aereogramme come from Scotland after I`d heard the album. It simply confirmed that the Scotts keep providing the rock scene with some of the most interesting and truly alternative groups in recent times (check out Arab Strap. or Ruby, or of course Mogwai). What does surprise me is that a group like that isn`t immediately picked up by a label like Chemical Underground, they would fit it like a glove...
Aereogramme rely on sound contrast and they seem to have mastered that recipe. They go from dark and melancholic Radiohead-like scapes to gut-turning metal passages (!) and back to synthie drones and effects all in a song`s work. It's anyway super difficult to categorise these people as they are definately doing their very own thing and, damn, what a thing that is too!
With a singer who resembles (both visually and vocally) Phil Collins but who has about 10 billion times more talent than Phil, with a rhythm section than can rock like a b***h but also mellow down to reveal depression hymns and melancholy odes, and with musical ideas that are probably too intelligent for the current MTV generation these Scotts are winning bets all the way...
So why aren`t they megabig yet???
Well, who cares and since when does that matter? Since when does size matter alltogether? (save it , save it)...
As long as Aereogramme remain "small" it`s almost guaranteed that their sound will retain the incredible quality of "A story in white"..It seems to work that way with groups like them doesn`t it?
Do discover them.

I can't decide if I like Aereogramme or not, which is a horrible way to start an album review. It's also a bad way to keep my job as a music writer, because it's our job to be steadfast and certain, to opine concretely and unswayingly, to... ah, whatever. Aereogramme's debut album, A Story in White, doesn't make that job an easy one, because, in many ways, it defies categorization. It is a schizophrenic affair between moody, cerebral, almost-ballads and razor-sharp, ear-piercing, raw aggression.

It's apparent from the opening bars of the first track, "The Question is Complete", that a A Story in White is not going to be the smoothest, most relaxing of rides. The listener is treated to an industrial strength attack of pounding, screeching and cut-up feedback, which leads into a raucous, yet tight, guitar-bass-drum interlude. Then the emotive part kicks in, eluding to the softer side of the Scottish trio. "The Question is Complete" goes back and forth like that, leaving the listener constantly wondering: Will they assault me again with their big heavy guitars, or will they keep it mellow for just a few more bars? This is the story of A Story in White.

Personally-and here's where I do have an opinion-I would lose all of the heavy, loud, obnoxious, screechy-screaming, guitar-distorted chaos that peppers the album, and then I would forget those parts ever existed and go on making pretty, heartfelt songs without the melodrama. At best, the aggression seems unnecessary; at worst, it's completely annoying. But I doubt Aereogramme is looking for advice, especially of that nature, so it's hard to pretend that my wish is going to come true.

The American version (on Matador) of A Story in White has Aereogramme's only other release to date, the White Paw EP, tacked on at the end. The three songs that make up the EP prove that Aereogramme can keep things mellow and interesting, without the aggression. Although there are forays into the rougher side rock on the White Paw songs, the edge isn't as sharp. As a result, the songs flow better. Too bad they didn't approach A Story in White with the same even keel.

Robert Young
February 2002
Junkmedia.org Review

It's fun to be so non-mainstream that you're freinds don't even know you while still being cool. That's what this album does for you. It blew my eyeballs out of my sockets and my skull fell out through my ears. It was really that good. One CD with music for all your moods. They sure look at you strangely when you buy this one at the CD shop.