Here are my thoughts written immediately after last night's stream. I originally posted them in stream thread but thought I'd post here because a) this thread is more appropriate b) the other thread was getting bogged down with PM requests and c) I'm a bit precious like that
Only further thought I've had is that there sounded like a lack of sonic u-turns in the tracks. By that I mean once the songs got going there were no apparent musical wrong-footings occurring where the tracks change tack mid way through. The songs were more linear. You have a dense from the outset of where they're heading with few surprises alongt
the way. That's one of the things I like about BOC. Maybe I missed them on one listen, but it was a slight disappointment.
Initial thoughts:
- Well, that was a bit bleak.
- Seem to be very fond of an arpeggiator this time round. And sweeping pads/chords. Guess this explains the journalist's Carpenter references - although I don't think the reference is wholly appropriate.
- Re: above - and less fond of melodies. They're still there, only slightly subdued and certainly less prominent. They're not as obvious, not so much in the spotlight.
- The production seems a lot sharper and pristine. This was slightly weird, although not unpleasant. Have the Sandisons done a Daft Punk?
- Only one track didn't appeal - it was the one after the count-y track - it felt rhythmically really awkward and seemed more an exercise in 'look at what we can do' rather than 'look at what we should do'.
- Re: bleakness. I was getting frustrated with the album to begin with, in that it never seemed to get going. By 'get going' I mean shifting gears, changing pace. By halfway, I realised that, tonally it wasn't going to and I had to live with it. That's when I started to really enjoy the album. That realisation was quite cathartic, in that I let go of any pre-conceived expectations and enjoyed (?) it for what it was: unrelentingly desolate and bleak. Which certainly fits the imagery.
- Re: the above. Which came first the concept or the music? I've been thinking about this a lot in the build-up to the album's release. Do the brothers choose the angle for the album first and then work within that conceptual conceit? Kind of like some directors who storyboard before the shoot. Or do they complete the music and frame the best fitting concept around it? I'm convinced it's the former.
- There were lots of nice fleeting moments that harked back to some of their older tracks. Almost paying reverence to themselves. Or us, the fans?
- The overriding feel the album left me with was that I needed to hear the album again. That's not, 'I need to hear this album again because it was wall-to-wall of standout classic pure gold' but out of intrigue. There are lots subtle but detailed earbait in there that demands more attention. This was the same reaction I had after the first listen of Geogaddi.
- Re: Geogaddi. I don't think, as has been written in numerous previews, this album sounds like it. From a mood point of view Geogaddi has that pervasive air of disquiet. Whereas Tomorrow's Harvest is, possibly literally, the fallout, the aftermath, the bleakness I talked about seems one of resignation ie if this album is about nuclear war, then I believe BOC are soundtracking the post-threat/strike devastation.
-Re: Geogaddi Pt 2. I read someone say there isn't much in the way the of buried messages on this album from what they had heard. Well, I certainly heard a few instances. Although, I was listening at quite a low volume AND I had a baby monitor on, so both these things may have accounted for what I heard.
- The strongest influence I gleaned (not really influence but more kindred spirit) is My Bloody Valentine. The shared love of buried melodies and sonambulent drones were more pronounced on Tomorrow's Harvest than anything previous.
EDIT - Did anyone notice anything moving on their screen? I had my laptop hooked up to the hi-fi, so the screen was at a funny angle, but after all the introductory titles/credits, I swear I saw a less-black-than-black, barely noticeable blob moving in the centre of the screen. Is it just me? Nurse? Nurse???!! The pills!! The pills!!!!!
) concept like I said to a moderator, right after the Parisian listening party!!