Search - Town & Country :: 5

An honorable effort

R. Gubbels | Green Bay, WI USA | 01/06/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Similar, in structure only, to that of previous releases, Town & Country continue to entertain, while perhaps not impress nor astound the critics with their solid performance on '5'. Their are two types of song structures on '5', the first and last song on the album is composed of a basic base-note, or foundation, which is laid. Multitudes of instruments are then brought in to elaborate until an entire ensemble is formed, only to be deconstructed as the song ends. Tried and true, and very effective. The four tracks between these two are, save for 'Lifestyled'(the finest track on the album), subdued droners which you will find yourself endless waiting to erupt into a fantastic flurry of noises; only to be dissipointed as the sound drifts away as softly as it came. The quartet of Abrams, Dorling, Payne, and Vida seem content with not getting too excited over their music, but yet deliver a flawless performance throughout the album. With it's single-note vexations reminiscent of Phillip Glass, at times '5' sounds a lot like that of a God Speed You Black Emperor album, if only a little less boisterous. The final track, 'Shirtless', has a great Reich'ish phasing effect to it which is very cool and ends the album on a high note. The album is sleepy at times, and meditative in quality, emerging from it's somberness (if only slightly) to give just enough color so as to build upon it's minimalistic foundations without elaborating too much so as not to destroy that same foundation.A slow, saddened, tranquil, yet fun (if only in Town & Country terms) album which will neither facinate nor dissapoint."