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: : Bolt -
Movement and Detail : : |
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Band/Artist
Bolt
Title:
Movement and Detail
Released
2006
Label
10t records |
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Track
listing:
1. The Devil's Paintbrush
2. Stryker
3. Anaphase
4. Variables
5. Invasion
6. Skydiving With a Life Preserver
7. Vendetta
8. Knocking On 9
9. Vanilla
10. Solar
11. Kick |
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: : The Players : :
W. Hayward Sims (guitars, korg synth, casio keys,
bells, loops, vox) - Bill Elliott (drums, percussion, vox) - Geoff Maxey
(basses, korg synth, vox) |
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: :
Movement and Detail : :
Movement and Detail is the second release from South Carolina based band
Bolt. Originally self-released in 2005, the album is now distributed by
new label 10t records, who signed the band earlier this year.
After listening to the album a few times, I knew I had a hard time
describing this one. Because it's rare these days to listen to a rock
album where there's hardly any distorted feedbacked fuzz guitar.
Instead, these guys opt for a clean guitar sound, only using the big
almighty fuzz as effects in some of the songs. And yet this is not a pop
album, if it should be placed under any category at all, "art rock"
would probably be the best label.
Because this is a well thought out album, where every detail seems to be
planned, tested and revised several times. Every little detail, from
song structure and sound effects to production, song names and album
artwork.
Musically it is extremely difficult to compare to other artists I know
of. If you can imagine a modernized Police spiced with King Crimson like
disharmonies in a modern jazz structure you're close. Add some dark
sounding and sometimes menacing synth sounds and you have Bolt. Oh,
another important fact is that this is an instrumental album. You can
hear voices added as effects in a couple of the tracks, but apart from
that these guys let their instruments do the talking.
The end result is
an album that'll probably be for the specially interested. If you are
into well produced albums, if you are a musician or have lots of
theoretical instrumental knowledge, this album will most probably shine
like a diamond in your collection.
On the other hand, if you are more of a regular music fan, approach this
release with a bit of caution.
Personally, I wasn't overly impressed with this album. These guys are
good at playing their instruments, technically they're probably
faultless, but I find the music to be a bit on the sterile side. A bit
too much repetition, a bit too emotionally cold, a bit boring at times.
There are no bad tracks as such on this release, but no truly excellent
ones either.
Recommended listening: "Stryker" - an up-tempo guitar driven tune,
"Anaphase" - a nice tune with a big space synth sound to it, "Invasion"
- one of the tracks where the fuzz guitar is used to good effect,
"Skydiving With a Life Preserver" - a song which has an almost alien
mood to it, "Knocking On 9" - good melody with some nice guitar and drum
work, "Vanilla" - fascinating tune with a noticeable King Crimson
influence.
Rating: 7 (out of 10)
Reviewer: Olav Björnsen
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
: : Discography : :
Movement and
Detail (2005/2006)
Circadian Rhytm (2003) |
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