From Gothenburg, Sweden, the new full length album of EF arrives. It has been long time since their debut album Give me beauty... Or give me death! saw the light and this year the Swedish band is celebrating their decade anniversary. It took me a while before starting writing this review. Perhaps because I was waiting for this album for so long or perhaps because I like EF since the first time I accidentally listened to them from the playlist of a friend of mine. I should admit that he has great music taste!
By the way Ceremonies will conquer you exactly as happened to me.
EF are Tomas Torsson, Daniel Öhman, Niklas Åström, Erik Gustafsson and Emanuel Olsson and the band made themselves a name in the post-rock genre with their music inspired, as they say, by everyday life and surroundings. Ceremonies will be released next September 6th and will be the band’s 4th studio album released on their own label And the Sound Records. To whet our curiosity the five piece band started streaming the opening song of the album, entitled ‘Bells, Bleed & Bloom’. Press play button and the album starts shining and your first reaction will be simply “wow”. Steady drum beats and relentless chime permeate thriving . ‘Bells, Bleed & Bloom’ is the first of the seven tracks that all together concur to make this album something special.
The following track, ‘Yield, Heart. Yeld!’ arrived to me as a sunshine in a gloomy day. The vocal interplay of this song is such a moment. Almost 12 minutes -as also the most post rock music songs - and it’s very easy to get lost within it.
After listening to this album countless of times through and through I've come to the conclusion that ‘Lake Vaettern’ is indeed an amazing track. This song is a journey best taken straight from beginning to end. ‘Lake Vaettern’ begins and ebbs like a normal post rock song would, with the addition of echoing vocals, and evolves powerful with layering guitars, horns, pianos and buoyant energy. Towards the end the rhythm changes becoming more pursuing and creating pretty guitar melody. It’s about eight minutes journey and you’ll land on ‘Sex’. This song seems the conclusion of the previous one. The echoing chorus that opened ‘Lake Vaettern’ opens up also ‘Sex’ meanwhile a pursuing drum gives the rhythm. These two songs must be experienced together without pause.
‘Delusions of Grandeur’ has wonderful guitar tones that go beyond the traditional post rock melodies and I’m sure that all Explosions in The Sky fan will appreciate it. The rhythm goes down just to let space to the vocals and it’s a great moment, maybe one of the best of the album. When it seems that the song is floating off it achieves the peak with a great vocal and stunning notes on the background. I think these are my favorite minutes of the album. There’s no coincidence, nothing is random, everything is put together in a precise way to create a song that, with its different moments, is really a work of art.
The following fifteen minutes are the last two songs of the album. Ceremonies leave us with two amazing tracks that follow the path of the previous songs demonstrating that the Swedish band went ahead in their music evolution.
I particularly appreciate the second half of ‘When G. Mallory Sleeps’ where their utilization of the orchestral elements is notable.
‘Thee Barren Soil Of Messaure’ concludes the one hour trip offered by EF. It’s a beautiful track; it’s that kind of song that can be what you want. Powerful, intense, dreaming and a very pleasant and relaxing listening experience. The way it dissolves whispering with gentle piano notes is the final touch to an already beautiful album.
At this point I’m still not able to elect one song as my favorite from Ceremonies as often happen with great albums: I just love the way the band moved from post to prog and of course the extended use of strings.
Ceremonies is an album that shines high for its blinding intensity and enveloping beauty and something very special for post rock fans. I’m sure you’ll enjoy.
