Systems: Layers

Rachel's, ?????? | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Quarter Stick
• ASIN: B0000D1FED
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,585 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars beautiful avant chamber music, November 28, 2005

By 

somethingexcellent (Lincoln, NE United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Systems: Layers (Audio CD)

For a long time, I think that people dismissed Rachel's as a group of indie kids who thought that they could get together and play classical music. After a string of amazing albums, the group shrugged off most of the criticism aimed their way by creating memorable music that mixed an indie-rock sensibility with chamber music and even a bit of extreme experimentation. After their last release, Selenography, I figured that the group had pretty much disappeared (despite various installations here and there over the years), but they're back with Systems/Layers and it's their most realized work yet.

As it turns out, the group has been working steadily for the last two years, and the material on this album is the result of that. Through collaboration with the SITI Company for a theater piece of the same name, the group improvised and discussed various pieces, arriving at this 19 track, 62-minute effort. Another unique element of this release is that the group makes use of a lot of field recordings. Perhaps because of the long recording process or the different ideas by different contributors, it feels almost like a musical travelogue of sorts, documenting different places with different music and themes.

"Moscow Is In The Telephone" opens the disc with shimmering organ and melancholy strings that gives way to only a solitaire violin playing out over crowd noise. The end of the piece swells slightly, but the whole thing just sort of wanders through quiet sidestreets before coming to an end. "Water From The Same Source" takes a much more structured route, and it's easily one of the best tracks on the release and perhaps one of the best the group has ever done. After building with achingly beautiful strings and quiet cymbals, it shifts back and forth between string and piano melodies while building surely and steadily into a gorgeous climax.

There are so many great tracks on the release that you'd have to talk about most of the release to do it justice. Some of the standouts include the subtle, twinkling interplay between strings and piano on "Arterial," the fluttering string quartet and manipulation of "Where_ Have_ All_ My_ Files_ Gone?" and the absolutely haunting "Last Things Last" (which makes nice use of understated vocals). Proving they're not above making a bit of a racket, "Singing Bridge" drops a huge, filtered and distorted bassline and drums that makes you feel like you're listening to something else entirely.

It would also be amiss of me not to mention that the piano playing of Rachel Grimes alone on this disc makes for some of the most stunning moments once again. Even when the group strips things down (as on the title track "Systems/Layers" or on "Anytime Soon"), it's her work on the piano that keeps things together and seems to be the backbone of the beautiful album. With the field recordings, the release at times resembles the more sublime moments of Set Fire To Flames, but with more strings and a slightly less bleak sound. Hopefully it won't take the group quite as long to do their next release, but when it comes out this well, I suppose I can wait.

(from almost cool music reviews)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like a breeze of cold air from the sea, June 28, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Systems: Layers (Audio CD)

I was a little bit worried that I wouldn't like this album so I put off buying it for a long time. Now that I finally did, i cant stop listening to it! Rachel's never fail to amaze me and I'm always left totally floored. They are probably one of the most talented, innovative groups to date. Honestly, there is not another band like them! This album has some resemblence to The Sea And The Bells (incredible album), but it's still very different from the stuff they've done before. It's much more ambient. My favorite song is "Water From The Same Source"...it almost drives me to tears everytime I hear it. That's how beautiful it is.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's no ocean in louisville..., October 28, 2003

By 

Pen Name? "fluxus" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Systems: Layers (Audio CD)

but there is a PNC bank.

Rachel's have gone in many different directions at once on this album, but it still fits together. I don't want to attempt to describe much here, for fear that I wouldn't do the music justice... But I do find this album to be even better than Selenography and the Sea and the Bells, perhaps the best Rachel's yet (though I've always had a special place for Handwriting). This is definitely essential, though... don't trust that other guy. And Rachel's are the coolest band in the world, too... they deserve your money.