Set and Setting hail from St. Petersburg, Florida and are a band I have followed since thier early days. After a period of relentless touring, it's with much excitment time for thier forthcoming debut album Equanimity.
Set and Setting have always incorporated elements of drone and ambience into a post-something cocktail of intoxicating musicality. They do so on their debut with more purpose and confidence than ever before. Instrumental In delivery but shifting in styles and dynamics throughout. There is a hefty dose of classic post-rock, but delivered with vigour and invention. Other influences appear and the album shifts and astounds throughout.
Beginning with the ambient openings of 'Through the Unhindered Break of Day' It sets the mood perfectly, leading into the more forceful 'Spiraling Uncertainties'. This is where Set and Setting come into their own, providing driving rhythms and intricate melodies. Although many fans of post-rock will love this, they deliver in a way that will appeal to fans of a range of music. Similar at times to Brooklyn instrumentalists, Sannhet or our own What the Blood Revealed. There is a multi-textural appeal to Equanimity that stands it apart. A dark and foreboding menace at times that is missing from too much "post" music. They also counter this with moments of tranquil beauty. 'Fear of Obtainment' for instance builds on relentless snare drumming, with delicate melodic momments of ambient passages. It's a thing of mesmerising effect and is full of tension, before crashing with release.
'Petrichor' is an acoustic interlude allowing a pause in the flow of long tracks crammed with ideas. 'New Age' brings a piano led intro into the mix and again is evidence of the unpredictability at work, strings and tremelo make this almost sound like Mono and their soundtrack like approach to writing.
'The Truth of the Path' continues in setting the ambience levels with falling and rising drones of guitar, building into a stunning refined and restrained piece. The often dominant rhythm again leads the track to a climatic end. 'Essence of Paradox' concludes the album in breathtaking style. Opening with the kind of shoegaze influenced guitar style that Deafheaven have used to great effect. The track drifts in and out like losing consciousness. Riffs emerge from the shimmering melody with triumph. Before it all crashes together again in relentless fashion. The track spirals out like some enveloping wave of sound never feeling like its 13 minute running time. It's a dramatic conclusion to what is an album of excellent quality. I can only urge you to seek it out and experience it for yourself.
Set and Setting release Equanimity through Science of Silence Records on June 4th. Vinyl and digital pre-orders are available now. Forcefield records will also be releasing limited edition cassettes.
